Family farming has played a key role in fighting poverty. This is especially seen in the production of healthy foods and low prices for the population. In the context of increasing and diversifying the family’s demand for food - supported by public policies of income transfer and the generation of employment and income - family farming plays a strategic role in controlling prices and the food supply. In Brazil, family farming is an important part of food production: 87% of cassava production; 70% of beans; 46% of corn; 38% of coffee; 34% of rice; 58% of milk; 59% of pigs; and 50% of birds, are due to family farming according to data of the Agricultural Census 2006 / IBGE. Recent advances were realized by the Brazilian State with the action to design and implement specific public policies for family farming - built together in partnership with civil society. Currently, Brazil has acted on several fronts with a set of public policies to strengthen family farming.

They include the importance of credit, through the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture (PRONAF), Policy Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (ATER) and actions for adding value and marketing of agricultural products family. The amount of credit resources, offered to family farmers have consistently increased over the last fifteen years. Policy Technical Assistance was reinforced with the creation of the National Agency for Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (ANATER), in 2014. In addition, institutional purchases like the Programs Food Acquisition (PAA) and School Feeding (PNAE) created markets for the products of family farming, promoting growth and development.

This text is kindly provided by the authorities of this country