The Small-Farmers Movement (MPA) of Brazil is present throughout the country. Around ten thousand peasants have blocked roads and streets in 17 Brazilian states, according to a communiqué by the board of the organization.

One the central issues is the link between rural and urban workers. Although it may seem strange, there are basic links between both types of workers that are not always taken into account: the urban population needs a strong and organized peasanthood, among other things, to have healthy food on the table.

“So that peasants continue producing 70% of the food that ends up on the tables of the Brazilian people, the movement demands public policies addressed to improve quality of life in the countryside”, says the MPA.

In this way, the peasants demanded improvements in the access to land; investment in production; more benefits related to food trade; peasant housing and education and incentives so that peasants continue preserving the environment.

They also raised the issue of a change in the Brazilian agricultural model, the strengthening of culture and the need to definitely solve the debt problem of small farmers.

The MPA also stated that there is a need to fight against the use of agrotoxics, a need to end large extensions of lands in the hands of a few, to stop monoculture plantations and promote a massive transition towards agroecology.

In order to achieve this, the MPA requested a series of hearings with governmental authorities, including interviews with 17 ministers.

Photo: MPA