After working for around two weeks in September in 11 municipalities affected by the flood and other effects of the extratropical cyclone in the Taquari Valley, the task force of the movements and organizations that make up the Seeds of Solidariedade mission is preparing to return to the territory at the beginning of October.
The actions carried out by the Small Farmers Movement (MPA), Padre Josimo Cultural Institute (ICPJ), Cáritas Brasileira and Cáritas RS, Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB), Instituito Koinós, Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) and JPIC/ Franciscans (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) were developed exclusively with small farmers, from peasant and family backgrounds, who were directly affected.
:: Janja and four of Lula’s ministers visit Vale do Taquari this Thursday (28) ::
According to previous reports from the field team, more than 700 families were visited and around 500 were registered to receive kits with corn, bean and vegetable seeds, as well as cassava branches and fruit tree seedlings. The first two activities will be carried out on a symbolic date, on the day that celebrates the life and memory of Saint Francis of Assisi, October 4th. On this date, activities are planned in Muçum (Celebration of Hope, at 9:30 am) and Arroio do Meio (Lunch and Solidarity Act, respectively at 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm).
The program includes the participation of economist and writer Eduardo Moreira, who coordinates the Instituto Knowledge Liberta and presents the information and situation analysis program called “ICL Notícias” every morning. Until October 12th, activities are also planned in Encantado, Venâncio Aires, General Câmara, Taquari, Bom Retiro do Sul, Estrela, Colinas, Cruzeiro do Sul and Roca Sales.
The delivery schedule, which must take place in community spaces, will be announced soon. Families that have not been visited by the teams can still register with representatives of participating organizations to also access the kit.
Donation campaign
The organizers reported that so far nearly R$200,000 in donations have been received in the fundraising campaign coordinated by Cáritas. Requests for donations are being renewed during the days leading up to the first deliveries so that the quantity of seeds in the kits can be increased to be passed on to the benefiting small farmers, as well as increasing the number of families reached.
Donations can be sent via Pix or bank deposit to the Cáritas RS account:
– Pix Key (CNPJ): 33654419001007
– Bank Deposit: Current Account: 55.450-2 / Branch 1248-3 (Banco do Brasil)
Socio-environmental tragedy is far from having reversed effects
Visits by teams from the Seeds of Solidarity Mission found desolate scenarios in the rural areas of the affected municipalities / Disclosure
The events recorded in Vale do Taquari between the 4th and 5th of September, considered the worst socio-environmental tragedy in RS, are still far from being resolved or at least mitigated. Despite the continuous effort of the local population, the strong participation of volunteers in an organized or spontaneous way, and the actions announced by the state and federal governments, the challenges of rebuilding cities (houses, businesses and public spaces) and rural areas (houses, crops and productive infrastructure items) should still last for weeks, perhaps months.
To date, 50 deaths have been confirmed and eight people are still missing due to the tragedy. In the financial aspect, the calculations project million-dollar figures, which several times exceed the budgetary capacity of the municipalities that were most severely affected.
:: Sementes de Solidariedade takes 1.9 tons of Creole seeds and seedlings to the Guarani Kaiowá people ::
Specifically in the rural sector, which is the focus of the Seeds of Solidarity Mission, losses could exceed R$1 billion. Last week, the state government announced a joint effort to collect detailed information on the losses of each rural property affected, from the Secretariat of Rural Development, with the participation of Emater technicians, union representations and organizations linked to the productive sectors.
The survey, which will list farmers’ needs by category (humanitarian, structural and resumption of the production process) is covering 19 cities, seven with public calamity declared and 12 in an emergency situation, and expects to cover 1,300 properties.
Claims continue to be defended with governments
A list of demands focused on family and peasant farming was delivered to vice-president Alckmin / Disclosure
The MPA has already presented to the state and federal governments a list of demands formulated based on reports from its base in the region, covering four distinct axes: Credit, debt solutions, Housing and Technical assistance.
In the first axis (Credit), the creation of a special Pronaf line aimed at reconstruction is required, with an investment of up to R$50 thousand per affected family, with a payment period of 10 years and a three-year grace period, the interest rate zero, with a Treasury guarantee and a simplified project. They also require a special line in Pronamp, with an investment of R$50,000 to R$100,000 per affected family, with a payment period of 10 years and a 3-year grace period, at an interest rate of 1% per year, also with a guarantee of the Treasury and simplified project.
In the second axis, which deals with debts, the movement requests renegotiation of debts and expiring Pronaf and Pronamp contracts with a 50% rebate, 3-year grace period and after 10 fixed annual installments.
In the third axis, which addresses the need for housing, the implementation of the Minha Casa Minha Vida program is required – Special for rebuilding housing for affected farmers, with immediate release and without bureaucracy through an already accredited family farming entity. This item also requests the inclusion of all families in band 1 of the program, regardless of the income shown in the previous DAP or CAF.
In the fourth axis, it is proposed to implement the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Program – Special Ater for farming families for a period of at least three years, formed with a multidisciplinary team including professionals from the medical, psychological, administrative, biological and environmental areas. environment, in addition to conventional agrarian and social issues.
Source: BdF Rio Grande do Sul
Editing: Marcelo Ferreira
