Food security conference highlights State policies to serve the population

The Government of Paraná participates in the VI State Conference on Food and Nutritional Security, which began this Tuesday (11/07), in Foz do Iguaçu, and has as its theme “Real Food, Democracy and Equity: Eradicate Hunger and Ensure Rights”. The event, supported by the State, through the State Agriculture System (Seagri), continues until this Thursday (09/11) and discusses topics such as health, combating hunger and encouraging agroecological and organic agriculture to prepare proposals for the national conference.

Initiatives – The Conference highlights the success of initiatives developed at the state level, and has the participation of approximately 500 representatives from all regions of the State, including family farmers, municipal and state public managers, representatives of the federal government, the National Food Security Council and Nutritional (Consea). The program involves themes such as health, combating hunger and encouraging agroecological and organic agriculture.

More municipalities – Paraná is the state with the most municipalities integrated into the Food and Nutritional Security System (Sisan), with 222 members, in addition to another 30 that are under analysis. As a result, these cities have easier access to national resources and public policies. Food security is among the main focuses of the state government’s work, with numerous actions aimed at the most vulnerable portion of Paraná and the population in general, in addition to guaranteeing income for small rural producers.

Relevant participation – At the opening, the state secretary of Agriculture and Supply, Norberto Ortigara, stated that Paraná has a relevant participation in the construction of consistent policies in this area. “Our level of investment in food security in the State is increasing. We are evolving in small cooperation, in associations, in building healthier environments, in organic production. It’s a slow process that we built to have a more qualified and natural production,” he said.

Challenge – “The Conference has the challenge of building a consensus between the urgent and priority demands of food security, and bringing relevant contributions to Brasília. It is important that everyone does their part, municipalities, states, the Union, civil society”, emphasized the secretary.

National Conference – The proposals debated and approved will be taken to the National Conference in December, in Brasília. This year, for the first time, the 399 municipalities in Paraná held municipal conferences and, subsequently, 22 regional conferences were promoted.

Safe food – The State’s participation in guaranteeing safe food was highlighted by the director-president of the Paraná Agricultural Defense Agency (Adapar), Otamir Cesar Martins. As an example, he cited the actions to disseminate the Unified Family, Craft and Small Agroindustrial Health Care System (Susaf-PR). “This simplified the process for small agribusinesses to sell their products across the state,” he said.

Stimulus – Martins also mentioned initiatives that encourage the production of healthy foods, such as the certification project for strawberry properties in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba that follow good practices. “It’s a way of demonstrating to consumers the entire safety of the production process.”

Work – In the assessment of the president of the State Council for Food and Nutritional Security, Roseli Pittner, the eradication of hunger depends on the union between the countryside and the city. “We have to work for people who are in need, for those who produce real food, which is our family farmer,” she said.

Joint actions – In this sense, joint actions for food security also involve attention to rural youth, indigenous and quilombola communities. “We need to talk more with communities that are vulnerable,” said farmer Ademir Vilialba, who represented the indigenous community of Itaipulândia.

Solutions – “The Conference serves so that these different voices and cultures can discuss solutions. It is through our strength, articulation and coexistence that we transform the country”, said the president of the National Council for Food and Nutritional Security (Consea), Elisabetta Recine.

Government actions – One of the highlights of the Government of Paraná’s actions is the Compra Direta Paraná program, created in 2020, which benefits almost a thousand philanthropic entities in the 399 municipalities of Paraná. The State invested R$85.1 million between 2020 and 2022, serving 163 cooperatives and associations involved in the food production and distribution process. In 2022, 309 thousand people from the social assistance network were served with diversified foods from family farming, including organic ones, directly contributing to the immunity and health of the beneficiaries.

Agreements – There are also agreements with city halls regarding Food and Nutritional Security Equipment, including urban and peri-urban vegetable gardens, popular restaurants, community kitchens and bakeries, supply centers, food banks and open-air markets. In 2022, 75 agreements were formalized.

Children’s Milk Program – Another example is the Children’s Milk Program, which helps combat child malnutrition through the free daily distribution of a liter of milk enriched with vitamins and iron to children aged six months to three years, in addition to promoting the chain milk production. Between 2019 and 2022, the program benefited, on average, 107.7 thousand children, which represented an investment of R$481.9 million. The rates show its effectiveness: 92% of the children served are at an appropriate weight for their age.

Certified organic producers – Paraná is the state with the largest number of certified organic producers, with approximately 4 thousand, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The state government’s challenge is to offer 100% organic school meals by 2030.

Attendance – State deputy Luciana Rafagnin also participated in the opening of the event; the Secretary of Social Assistance of Foz do Iguaçu, Elias de Souza Oliveira; the vice-rector of the Federal University of Latin American Integration (Unila), Rodne de Oliveira Lima; the superintendent of Environmental Management at Itaipu, Wilson Zonin; the president of Sistema Ocepar, José Roberto Ricken; the representative of the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger, Gismália Luiza Passos Trabuco; the representative of quilombola communities in Paraná, Neivair de Jesus Gonçalves; producer Ramon Stresser Bandeira, representing rural youth; the head of the Seab regional nucleus in Curitiba, Valdenir Batista Veloso; the head of the Seab regional nucleus in Cascavel, Lissandro Veran; the head of Desan, Márcia Stolarski; in addition to Seagri servers. (State News Agency)

PHOTOGRAPH: Seab