Analysis of the distribution of Pronaf Agricultural Funding

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the distribution of Pronaf credit destined for agricultural operating costs (custeio agrícola) in Brazil, with an emphasis on the main crops from 2013 to 2023. A quantitative methodological approach was adopted, using data from the Central Bank of Brazil, deflated by the INPC to 2023 values. The analysis encompassed variables related
to the volume of contracts, disbursed resources, and average values of the primary crops in terms of credit
access representation. The period was marked by a 29.7% decrease in the number of contracts and a 63.4%
surge in the overall value of resources accessed. For the five crops with the highest volume of contracted
resources (soybean, corn, coffee, wheat, and onion), a concentration of 82.6% of the total amount was
observed, with soybean alone representing 29.8% of contracts and 37.5% of resources. Conversely,
essential crops such as beans showed a 58.8% retraction in the number of contracts, even though financial
investment increased by 75.2%. Furthermore, the data reveal a sharp regional concentration of Pronaf
operations in the South of the country. Given this scenario, an adjustment of the program is deemed
necessary, as operating credit is a determining factor for food security in Brazil. Directing resources with
greater spatial capillarity and focusing on regionally strategic crops is fundamental to strengthening family
farming and promoting productive diversification – core pillars of the program’s objectives.