Wilson Lima presents AM food security policy in the Pact Against Hunger

Sao Paulo-SP) – During the launch of the Pacto Contra a Fome movement, in São Paulo, this Tuesday (23), Governor Wilson Lima presented the food security policy developed by the Government of Amazonas, which includes programs such as State Aid, Prato Cheio and the School Lunch Regionalization Program (Preme).

“Hunger is a reality in Brazil and also in the state of Amazonas. I am very happy with initiatives like this one, which comes from organized civil society and which involves, in its process, decision makers, representatives of the federal government, the state government and also city halls, the business community as a whole, volunteers, so that we can face this problem, which is extremely serious and which has been dragging on for years”,

said Wilson Lima.

The State Aid, in the amount of R$ 150 per month, already serves 300,000 families in Amazonas and is the largest income transfer program in the history of the state. The Popular Restaurants and Kitchens of the Prato Cheio program have already served more than 2 million ready meals, from 2022 until April this year, to people in socially vulnerable situations in Manaus and in the interior of the state.

Preme promotes food security for more than 500,000 students from the state public network, who have products purchased by the State from farmers in the Amazon on their school lunch menu, also generating income for rural producers.

With the presentation of the investments and results of the three programs and other initiatives of the state food security policy, Wilson Lima hopes to contribute to the discussions of the Pacto Contra a Fome movement.

“The state of Amazonas has, over the last four years, developed some strategies so that we can minimize this problem of hunger”, highlighted the governor. “So, it is the experience that we also bring to this moment, that we can build this exchange of experiences, this support in terms of technology, in terms of learning to increasingly strengthen our social programs to combat hunger”,

completed Wilson Lima.

Also participating in the launch of the Pact Against Hunger were the coordinator of the Integrated Management Unit (UGI), Lúcia Carla Gama; the Executive Secretary of Social Assistance of the State, Anderson Oliveira; and the manager of Seas’ Decentralized Food and Nutritional Security actions, Jéssica Monteiro.

Pact against Hunger

The Pacto Contra a Fome movement defines itself as “a nonpartisan member of civil society, whose mission is to help fight hunger and reduce food waste”, which acts through articulation, strategic intelligence and recognition of good practices for build bridges between governments, organized civil society and the private sector.

During the event, the Pacto Hub was also launched, a platform to promote connection and give visibility to public and private initiatives, and the Pacto Contra a Fome Award, developed in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in order to recognize outstanding civil society initiatives.

Hunger Combat Policy

With State Aid, launched by Governor Wilson Lima, the Government of Amazonas contributes to the fight against hunger and moves the economy, generating jobs and income. Of the 300,000 families in poverty and extreme poverty assisted, 90% are headed by women. The benefit reaches 62 municipalities in Amazonas and boosts local trade with a monthly injection of R$ 45 million into the economy, totaling R$ 540 million a year.

The Prato Cheio program was expanded during the Wilson Lima administration. The number of Popular Restaurants and Kitchens in Amazonas went from seven to 44, since 2019. Before concentrated in the capital, Prato Cheio was taken to the interior, which currently has units in 26 municipalities.

The Popular Restaurants offer a full lunch for R$1, from Monday to Friday, while the Popular Kitchens offer free soup, from Monday to Saturday.

State investments in Preme for the purchase of products from farmers total R$ 91 million, since 2019. During this period, about 9 thousand tons of regional food purchased were intended for school lunches in Amazonas.

Other initiatives

Among the priority policies of the Government of Amazonas to combat hunger, the Program for Combating and Preventing Food Waste and Loss; the program Peixe no Prato; the Amazonas Food Bank, which is being implemented; and initiatives to donate fish and purchase food for donation to vulnerable families.

With a program to combat food waste, the State Government has already collected more than 490 tons of products at fairs and partner supermarkets, since 2019. The food was donated to social institutions and community kitchens, serving more than 350,000 vulnerable people Social.

With Peixe no Prato, more than 715 tons of fish were purchased from fish farmers and fishermen, which were donated to more than 225,000 families in 30 cities in Amazonas, since 2021. BRL 5.7 million were invested in the acquisition of fish. Other fish donations made by the State add up to 300 tons of fish, with investments of R$ 4.5 million. The fish was donated to 200 accredited institutions in the State assistance network, which distributed the fish to 100,000 needy families.

In the Food Acquisition Program, carried out in partnership with the Federal Government, the State has already acquired 7.5 thousand tons of regional products since 2019, with an investment of R$ 17.9 million, benefiting more than 430 thousand people in social vulnerability in 55 municipalities in the Amazon.

The State also works on the Food Bank of Amazonas program, in partnership with Mesa Brasil Sesc. The structure is being implemented, with investments of R$ 1.5 million from the Government of Amazonas, and will collect and receive food, in conditions of consumption, donated by companies and institutions, to distribute to people in a situation of social vulnerability.

*With advisory information

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