Fish landings. (Photo: pesca.sp.gov.br)

USD 2,000 million invested to double fish production

BRAZIL
Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 16:30 (GMT + 9)

The Brazilian government will invest BRL 4,100 million (USD 2,000 million) until 2014 to double fish production and reach two million tonnes per year.

This ambitious goal is part of the Harvesting Plan for Fisheries that the president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, has just launched with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of the fishing industry and "the income of fishing families living in extreme poverty."

The initiative includes improved access to credit, technical assistance and investment in promoting the creation of fishing cooperatives.

Rousseff ensured that it will facilitate the access of low-income fishermen to the Financing Programme for Family Agriculture (Pronaf) so they can get advantageous loans, bearing interest at 4 per cent per year and a two-year grace period to pay off their debts.

As part of this plan it is expected that the Food Acquisition Programme (PAA) buys up to 20,000 tonnes of fish a year to producers, reported Reuters agency.

Rousseff said that the Government is interested in encouraging the creation of cooperatives and their transformation into small industries.

And she recalled that these entities can borrow up to BRL 30 million (USD 15 million), which could be paid a maximum of 10 years with an annual interest rate of 2 per cent.

The money will allow associations to buy equipment and cages, update boats, improve marketing and avoid waste, reported Prensa Latina.

The Head of State also anticipated they will spend BRL 135 million (USD 65 million) for technical courses to train and qualify fishermen.

"We want a more competitive industry and to increase revenue of 380,000 fishing families," he concluded.

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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