Brazil has reduced poverty and lifted nearly 30 million people out of hunger, says Wellington Dias.
The Minister of Development and Social Assistance highlights in an interview with TV 247 the progress made in combating hunger and poverty in the country. Watch.
247 - The Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Wellington Dias, stated this Thursday (6) that Brazil managed to significantly reduce poverty and hunger rates in 2024. During an interview on the program good night 247, transmitted by 24-hour TVDias highlighted that the social policies implemented by President Lula's government were fundamental in lifting nearly 30 million Brazilians out of food insecurity.
'In 2024, Brazil should have reached between 28 million and 29 million people outside the Hunger Map. The release of the Brazilian food security scale is scheduled for the coming months. Extreme poverty also fell to 4,4% in 2023 and should have fallen again in 2024, with the growth in income, jobs, the economy, and this firm hand given to the population registered in the Unified Registry for Social Programs (CadÚnico), which receives Bolsa Família benefits,' the minister emphasized.
Hunger map
The minister also predicted that the country will be removed from the Hunger Map: 'In 2025, God willing, we will complete Brazil's removal from the Hunger Map, in the three-year period of 2023, 2024 and 2025. In the FAO's announcement next year, I want to celebrate Brazil being removed from the Hunger Map.'
Social investments and the resumption of programs
According to Wellington Dias, the Lula government reinstated essential programs that had been dismantled in recent years, such as the Food Acquisition Program and those aimed at strengthening family farming and expanding access to credit for small producers.
'It's not enough to just guarantee a financial benefit. Our goal is to structure a system that allows families to become self-sufficient, with access to work and education,' explained Dias.
The minister also highlighted that the government has increased investments in food security, ensuring a greater supply of food at affordable prices. "We have created a strategy that not only protects the most vulnerable, but also strengthens the local economy," he said.
Economic recovery and its impact on food inflation.
During the interview, Wellington Dias emphasized that the federal government has been working to curb food inflation, which primarily affects low-income families. He mentioned that, in addition to social assistance programs, there has been a reduction in taxation on essential products, which has helped stabilize prices.
'We are closely monitoring price trends and working on policies to prevent the Brazilian people from being harmed by market speculation,' Dias stated.
Recent data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) confirms a significant drop in the number of Brazilians living in extreme poverty. Improved income and reduced food inflation are cited as key factors in this progress.
Government legacy and future challenges
At the end of the interview, Wellington Dias reiterated that the Lula government's commitment is to maintain social progress and ensure that Brazil does not return to the hunger and poverty of recent years. He emphasized that the challenges are still great, but that there is a strategic plan to keep the population protected.
'We are on the right track. Brazil has the potential to be a country without hunger, and that is what we are building with hard work and social commitment,' the minister concluded.
