Fome Zero ("Zero Hunger"), a national effort spearheaded by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva, has encouraged Brazilian states and municipalities to launch their own wars on hunger. Less than two years after the program's launch in January 2003, there were dozens of small Fome Zero programs scattered across the country.
One of the states that has made the most progress with its Fome Zero program is Paraná, with 9.5 million inhabitants. In June, the federal government transferred 5 million reais (US$1.65 million) to help the state support family farming.
"There is enough money for us to buy products from 2,000 farmers," says André Michelato, one of the program's two local managers. He adds, however, that this is still insufficient because there are about 380,000 family farmers in the state. But it's a start.
According to Michelato, the benefits of direct purchasing are clear. In Paraná's southeastern region alone, 17 communities have shown an interest in the program. On the downside, only one meeting had been held by June 2004 to discuss the program.
Other Brazilian states, including Maranhão, Bahia, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo, are also eager to discuss food security and to earmark part of their budgets for this purpose. So are a number of municipalities that have already created local programs to fight hunger. Fome Zero urges any interested state or municipality to set up its own food security board, made up of civic organizations, and to decide which aspects of the national program and policies best address local needs.