Vaivém: Lula and Bolsonaro’s platforms for agriculture are similar

With the passage of Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the second round, agriculture will have similar themes in the two government platforms, but with different perspectives.

Themes related to agribusiness are few, but the focus given by the candidates in their programs to food security, the green economy, environmental sustainability, the use of technology in the field and the aggregation of value to products indicates the importance of the sector for the economy. Brazilian.

The proposals, however, are vague and, for now, only present the need to include the themes in the government plans.

One of the most present themes is food security. For Bolsonaro’s team, it is possible to have a balance between domestic and foreign demand for food, but in-depth studies on the subject are needed.

For Lula, the commitment must be to fight hunger. In the opinion of PT’s team, a supply policy is needed that includes the resumption of regulatory food stocks.

In addition, promote an expansion of the financing policy and support for food production for small farmers. Bolsonaro’s program includes the public purchase of production by Pronaf (National Program for the Strengthening of Family Agriculture) and the donation of purchased food.

For Lula’s team, production and consumption must be sustainable, in addition to facing climate change. The candidate proposes a reconstruction of federal entities that were scrapped and a relentless fight against illegal deforestation. The fight against deforestation is also proposed by Bolsonaro.

As for agrarian reform, Lula proposes a resumption of the system. Bolsonaro says that land regularization actions must be consolidated and expanded. The current president also defends the possession of firearms to guarantee the right to property and reduce conflicts and invasions in the countryside.

Both candidates emphasize the need for greater added value in agricultural products, in addition to promising incentives for cooperatives and producers. For the PT, support is needed for small and medium-sized farms, especially family farming.

The search for greater connectivity in the field and quality internet is also in the program of the two candidates.

For Lula, there will be a firm fight against the environmental crimes of militias, land grabbers and loggers. The candidate promises recovery of degraded lands and reforestation in devastated areas.

Bolsonaro, if re-elected, promises to act against environmental crimes, fighting fires, forest fires and illegal deforestation.

On the issue of Indians, Bolsonaro’s program points out that indigenous people and quilombolas are an important part of the Brazilian population. Their culture and traditions must be respected.

Lula’s program, on the other hand, emphasizes the protection of indigenous and quilombola lands, preventing predatory activities on them.

On the supply of fertilizers, one of the most debated topics recently due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Bolsonaro says it is necessary to increase production.

In the assessment of Lula’s team, one of the solutions for this input could come from Petrobras, which, in addition to energy security, can act in the supply of fertilizers, biofuels and renewable energy.

Government investments in agricultural research have been falling year after year, and Lula’s program includes Embrapa among the priorities to identify potential for farmers and ensure competitiveness and sustainability for small and large producers.

In the PT’s goals, agricultural and livestock production is important for food security and the economy, in addition to being a strategic sector for the trade balance. It is necessary to strengthen the national production of agricultural inputs, machinery and equipment.

One of the highlights of Bolsonaro’s platform is the promotion of fishing activity. Measures that have been adopted create conditions for the growth of this activity in the country, according to the current president’s government program.