UN Body Says Brazil Is Close to Leaving the Hunger Map and Lula Celebrates: "Working in the Right Direction"
Brazil eliminated hunger in 2014 but returned to the map in 2021 during Bolsonaro's government. Under Lula, over 14 million people escaped hunger in 2023.
247 - Brazil is on the verge of leaving the Hunger Map, just two years after returning to the list compiled by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), reports Metrópoles. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, this Monday (12), President Lula (PT) celebrated the news: "working competently in the right direction, the results in poverty and hunger reduction soon appear."
In an interview with UN News, Jorge Meza, FAO's representative in Brazil, highlighted that hunger in the country increased significantly during the pandemic, but immediate social support measures have been crucial for recovery. "For a country to leave the hunger map, it must have undernourishment, or a level of hunger, equal to or below 2.5%. Brazil, in the period 2021-2023, has a moving average value of 3.9%. We work with a three-year moving average. With 3.9%, we are very close to 2.5%, the value needed for the country to leave the hunger map," explained Meza.
Brazil managed to eliminate hunger in 2014 but returned to the Hunger Map in 2021, reflecting the impact of the global pandemic and the political, social, and economic chaos imposed during the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government. Now, the federal government is committed to removing the country from this condition once again. Meza emphasized that combating hunger in Brazil involves creating new income-generating programs and addressing situations of vulnerability.
The numbers indicate a positive trend: more than 14.7 million Brazilians escaped hunger in the past year. Additionally, the average rate of severe food insecurity fell from 8.5% in the period from 2020 to 2022 to 6.6% between 2021 and 2023.
Meza also highlighted the importance of science and technology in sustainable agriculture, which is essential for ensuring long-term food security. The "Brazil Without Hunger" program, recently launched by the government, is an example of how over 80 initiatives are being integrated to address the problem in a coordinated manner.
Family farming, which accounts for more than 60% of the food consumed in the country, is a key factor in this effort. Meza pointed out that Brazil can be an example to the world, sharing knowledge, experiences, and technical capacities through partnerships like South-South Cooperation, which aims to promote food and nutritional security on a global scale.