BNDES and Brazilian agricultural cooperativism after 2000

Abstract

This article presents the importance of BNDES in the economic and productive development of Brazilian agricultural cooperatives after the 2000s. During this period, agricultural cooperatives, especially large agro-industrial cooperatives, registered a significant increase in the number of members, production, territory of operation and revenues. Despite the importance of other factors, such as market and prices, the relationship of cooperatives with BNDES and public credit policies was decisive for the recent growth of cooperativism, enabling productive and commercial investments in the sector. The text methodology included the analysis of statistical data and information obtained from financial institutions and cooperatives. To detail the relationship between the cooperatives and BNDES, information on credit operations with the bank of the five largest cooperatives in Brazil was selected: Coamo, Aurora, C. Vale, Lar and Cocamar.