THE FOOD ACQUISITION PROGRAM AS AN INDUCER OF FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyze the Simultaneous Donation Purchase modality of the Food Acquisition Program (PAA) in Mato Grosso state, emphasizing the diversified production, family consumption and promotion of food sovereignty among the peasants and those people served by the program. The four main methodological procedures used were: bibliographic and documentary research, data collection, the elaboration of cartographic representation, and the analysis of primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected from February to July 2016, through semi-structured interviews with peasant leaders who access or have accessed the PAA and the secondary data came from the National Supply Company (Conab). The findings were that the PAA impacts on social inclusion, strengthening peasant agriculture, which produces enough good quality food to meet the families’ dietary requirements and offers the possibility of selling any surplus. It is concluded that food sovereignty affirms the right of peasants and the people benefiting from the program to a culturally appropriate diet and the resources to produce food, thus reducing their dependence on capitalist markets.

Keywords:
Public policy; food production; social assistance