Rural Productive Activities Promotion Program (Programa de Fomento às Atividades Produtivas Rurais, in Portuguese) combines two actions: social and productive monitoring and direct transfer of non-refundable financial resources so that the poorest rural families can develop their productive projects. With this articulation between technical and financial support, it is expected that beneficiary families will be able to structure or expand their productive capacity, in order to increase or diversify food production and income-generating activities, contributing to the improvement of food security and nutrition and overcoming poverty (MDS).
- Families must be registered in the Cadastro Único, live in rural areas, and be in poverty (monthly income of up to R$218.00 per person). Typically, these are families engaged in family farming or belonging to traditional peoples and communities, such as Indigenous groups, Quilombolas, and extractivists.
- There is no restriction preventing a family receiving Bolsa Família from also receiving Rural Promotion support, and they do not lose the benefit if they are removed from or suspended from the Bolsa Família Program.
- Families are identified and engaged by agents from the technical teams of partner institutions. If they meet the program criteria, they receive periodic home visits to monitor the development of their production project over a period of up to 2 years, starting from the release date of the first installment.
- Payments are made by Caixa Econômica Federal, using the same card as the Bolsa Família Program. If the family does not have this card, they can receive the payment through the Cidadão Card or by direct withdrawal at the branch.
Types of projects supported
- Agricultural projects (e.g., small animal farming, vegetable gardening)
- Non-agricultural projects (e.g., handicrafts, beauty salons, juice production);
- Projects carried out by an individual family or a collective of families; and
- Simple projects (involving only one productive activity, such as raising chickens) or combined projects (involving multiple activities, such as gardening and baking).
From 2012 until April 2024, a total of 313,072 families were included in the Foment Program;
According to the Single Registry, 4.9 million families with a monthly per capita income of up to R$218.00 (about US$ 45) live in rural areas (22% of the total number of poor families identified in the Single Registry);
A survey carried out in July 2018 with 4,328 projects from families served in the states of Rondônia, Bahia, Alagoas, Paraíba, Piauí, Tocantins, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Distrito Federal shows the types of projects chosen most frequently. Animal breeding projects stand out, such as chickens (29%) and sheep/goats (20%). Among non-agricultural projects, the most common are resale, crafts or sewing, baking and beauty salons.
Each beneficiary family receives non-refundable financial resources, worth R$4,600, in two installments to develop their productive projects.
In 2023, the total amount of resources transferred to families was R$ 51,634,950 (about US$ 10 million)
In 2024, until April, R$ 31,582,400 (about US$ 6 million) in financial benefits had already been transferred.
Multi-level governance involving national government (budget, guidance, policies), state/provincial government and local governments (technical assistance service), and civil society organizations (monitoring and implementation).
- Steering Committee - made up of representatives from the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture (MDA), Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and Ministry of Finance (MF. It is responsible for approving the Program's planning, making available resources compatible with the number of beneficiary families, defining the monitoring and evaluation system and articulating the program with other actions and public policies.
- Rural Technical Assistance and Extension Services Agents – help families in the preparation of Productive Projects, mobilize, guide and inform on ways to generate income through the implementation of the productive project and in addition to improvements in nutrition, through a participatory process and dialogue. They encourage participation and the active involvement of young people and women and support families of traditional peoples and communities to promote productive activities in accordance with their cultures and respecting their identities.
- Social and productive monitoring is a fundamental component to improving families' living conditions. Through regular home visits, this monitoring strengthens bonds between the families served and the technicians supporting them. family monitoring occurs through Family Monitoring Service for Social and Productive Inclusion (SAFISP), which may be provided by implementing entities of the Cistern Program, connecting Rural Promotion with access to rainwater harvesting technologies. It can also be carried out in partnership with states, municipalities, and public consortia, autonomous social services (the “S” system), federal universities, and federal institutes of education, science, and technology.
Program management system under development.
O Projeto Dom Helder Câmara II e sua Articulação com o Programa Fomento às Atividades Produtivas - Families who received technical assistance and development have better results than the families who only received technical assistance. Among the results found, the annual income per family member was higher in the group that received technical assistance and development, reaching an income 13.59% higher than the group that did not receive development assistance. The study also showed reduction in the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) of the beneficiary families by 4.2% (Study on the Dom Helder Camara Project, financed by IFAD, published in 2022).
(An impact assessment of the program is underway, with the aim of observing the impact of the program in terms of family production, income generation and increasing food and nutritional security and the well-being of beneficiary families. The study, which is being carried out in partnership with UFPE, uses the Randomized Controlled Trial methodology).
Through regular monitoring and targeted assessments, the program has made adjustments to:
- create a specific legal framework to enable faster and more effective implementation by partners;
- approach with local social assistance, as a way of enabling the “active search” of families with a profile for assistance and who are outside the Single Registry;
- guide and provide clear information to partners and executors, in order to ensure the adequate completion of all stages of technology implementation, including social mobilization and training processes;
- carry out direct communication with the target population about the program's objectives, assistance without charging fees or financial compensation and possible reporting channels.
SDG 1 - No poverty
- Target 1.1 - By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day.
- Indicator 1.1.1 - Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)
- Target 1.2 - By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
- Indicator 1.2.1 - Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age
- Indicator 1.2.2 - Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
SDG 2 - End hunger
- Target 2.1 - By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
- Indicator 2.1.1 - Prevalence of undernourishment
- Indicator 2.1.2 - Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)
- Target 2.2 - By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons.
- Indicator 2.2.1 - Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age
- Indicator 2.2.2 - Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for height >+2 or <-2 standard deviation from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age, by type (wasting and overweight)
- Indicator 2.2.3 - Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years, by pregnancy status (percentage)
SDG 5 - Gender equality
- Target 5.a - Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws
- Indicator 5.a.1 - (a) Proportion of total agricultural population with ownership or secure rights over agricultural land, by sex; and (b) share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land, by type of tenure
- Indicator 5.a.2 - Proportion of countries where the legal framework (including customary law) guarantees
SDG 10 - Reducing inequalities
- Target 10.1 - By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average
- Indicator 10.1.1 - Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population
- Target 10.2 - By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
- Indicator 10.2.1 - Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
SDG 1 – No poverty
- Target 1.1 – By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day.
- Indicator 1.1.1 – Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)
- Target 1.2 – By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
- Indicator 1.2.1 – Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age
- Indicator 1.2.2 – Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
SDG 2 – End hunger
- Target 2.1 – By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
- Indicator 2.1.1 – Prevalence of undernourishment
- Indicator 2.1.2 – Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)
- Target 2.2 – By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons.
- Indicator 2.2.1 – Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age
- Indicator 2.2.2 – Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for height >+2 or <-2 standard deviation from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age, by type (wasting and overweight)
- Indicator 2.2.3 – Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years, by pregnancy status (percentage)
SDG 5 – Gender equality
- Target 5.a – Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws
- Indicator 5.a.1 – (a) Proportion of total agricultural population with ownership or secure rights over agricultural land, by sex; and (b) share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land, by type of tenure
- Indicator 5.a.2 – Proportion of countries where the legal framework (including customary law) guarantees
SDG 10 – Reducing inequalities
- Target 10.1 – By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average
- Indicator 10.1.1 – Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population
- Target 10.2 – By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
- Indicator 10.2.1 – Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
Rural Productive Activities Promotion Program (Programa de Fomento às Atividades Produtivas Rurais, in Portuguese) combines two actions: social and productive monitoring and direct transfer of non-refundable financial resources so that the poorest rural families can develop their productive projects. With this articulation between technical and financial support, it is expected that beneficiary families will be able to structure or expand their productive capacity, in order to increase or diversify food production and income-generating activities, contributing to the improvement of food security and nutrition and overcoming poverty (MDS).
- Families must be registered in the Cadastro Único, live in rural areas, and be in poverty (monthly income of up to R$218.00 per person). Typically, these are families engaged in family farming or belonging to traditional peoples and communities, such as Indigenous groups, Quilombolas, and extractivists.
- There is no restriction preventing a family receiving Bolsa Família from also receiving Rural Promotion support, and they do not lose the benefit if they are removed from or suspended from the Bolsa Família Program.
- Families are identified and engaged by agents from the technical teams of partner institutions. If they meet the program criteria, they receive periodic home visits to monitor the development of their production project over a period of up to 2 years, starting from the release date of the first installment.
- Payments are made by Caixa Econômica Federal, using the same card as the Bolsa Família Program. If the family does not have this card, they can receive the payment through the Cidadão Card or by direct withdrawal at the branch.
Types of projects supported
- Agricultural projects (e.g., small animal farming, vegetable gardening)
- Non-agricultural projects (e.g., handicrafts, beauty salons, juice production);
- Projects carried out by an individual family or a collective of families; and
- Simple projects (involving only one productive activity, such as raising chickens) or combined projects (involving multiple activities, such as gardening and baking).
Through regular monitoring and targeted assessments, the program has made adjustments to:
- create a specific legal framework to enable faster and more effective implementation by partners;
- approach with local social assistance, as a way of enabling the “active search” of families with a profile for assistance and who are outside the Single Registry;
- guide and provide clear information to partners and executors, in order to ensure the adequate completion of all stages of technology implementation, including social mobilization and training processes;
- carry out direct communication with the target population about the program’s objectives, assistance without charging fees or financial compensation and possible reporting channels.
Social registry; Access to irrigation; Pro-poor access to agricultural inputs, technology and knowledge; Promote inclusive access to agricultural markets; Inclusive value addition and processing; Farmer registry; Social care services; Support to livelihood diversification
Multi-level governance involving national government (budget, guidance, policies), state/provincial government and local governments (technical assistance service), and civil society organizations (monitoring and implementation).
- Steering Committee – made up of representatives from the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture (MDA), Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and Ministry of Finance (MF. It is responsible for approving the Program’s planning, making available resources compatible with the number of beneficiary families, defining the monitoring and evaluation system and articulating the program with other actions and public policies.
- Rural Technical Assistance and Extension Services Agents – help families in the preparation of Productive Projects, mobilize, guide and inform on ways to generate income through the implementation of the productive project and in addition to improvements in nutrition, through a participatory process and dialogue. They encourage participation and the active involvement of young people and women and support families of traditional peoples and communities to promote productive activities in accordance with their cultures and respecting their identities.
- Social and productive monitoring is a fundamental component to improving families’ living conditions. Through regular home visits, this monitoring strengthens bonds between the families served and the technicians supporting them. family monitoring occurs through Family Monitoring Service for Social and Productive Inclusion (SAFISP), which may be provided by implementing entities of the Cistern Program, connecting Rural Promotion with access to rainwater harvesting technologies. It can also be carried out in partnership with states, municipalities, and public consortia, autonomous social services (the “S” system), federal universities, and federal institutes of education, science, and technology.
From 2012 until April 2024, a total of 313,072 families were included in the Foment Program;
According to the Single Registry, 4.9 million families with a monthly per capita income of up to R$218.00 (about US$ 45) live in rural areas (22% of the total number of poor families identified in the Single Registry);
A survey carried out in July 2018 with 4,328 projects from families served in the states of Rondônia, Bahia, Alagoas, Paraíba, Piauí, Tocantins, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Distrito Federal shows the types of projects chosen most frequently. Animal breeding projects stand out, such as chickens (29%) and sheep/goats (20%). Among non-agricultural projects, the most common are resale, crafts or sewing, baking and beauty salons.
Each beneficiary family receives non-refundable financial resources, worth R$4,600, in two installments to develop their productive projects.
In 2023, the total amount of resources transferred to families was R$ 51,634,950 (about US$ 10 million)
In 2024, until April, R$ 31,582,400 (about US$ 6 million) in financial benefits had already been transferred.
Program management system under development.