The Parliamentary Agricultural Front (FPA) participated, this Tuesday (9), in a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MPLSA), André de Paula. On the agenda, one of the requests made by the group was that the contribution destined for interest rate equalization in the Plano Safra reach R$ 27 billion. The current program has approximately R$ 13.5 billion destined for interest rate equalization. In practice, this resource allows credit to reach rural producers with more accessible rates, by covering the difference between market interest rates and those actually paid on the loan. This instrument is also used in other strategic areas of the country, such as incentives for technological development and infrastructure. One of the points criticized by the FPA in the current model is the inclusion, by the government, of private resources in the announced amount. Since last year, the Executive has been including in the total volume of the Plano Safra values lent through the Rural Product Certificate (CPR), which, in the group's assessment, masks the real performance of official credit lines. Although the figures released by MPLSA (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) indicate an increase in contracting, detailed data show a decrease in subsidized programs. Moderfrota and Proirriga, for example, fell by 54.8% and 56.2%, respectively, compared to the previous cycle. Furthermore, the reality faced by producers, marked by squeezed margins, increased production costs, defaults, and high interest rates, has put pressure on operating loans. Therefore, another request made to Minister André de Paula was the creation of an emergency operating loan line for the next cycle. The president of the FPA (Agricultural Parliamentary Front), Deputy Pedro Lupion (Republicanos-PR), also warned about the need to separate the discussion of rural debt from the development of the new credit program. "Our concern is that indebtedness does not contaminate the Plano Safra (Agricultural Plan)," Lupion stated to the minister. According to MPLSA, the announcement is expected on July 1st. In recent days, banks have completed submitting the necessary requests to operationalize the credit. Considering the equalized resources, the amount requested reaches approximately R$ 200 billion. Internally, the ministry has already indicated that this amount will be difficult to reach due to budgetary limitations, but is working to increase the volume compared to the current cycle, which was around R$ 113 billion.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.