The veto of a project that recognized part of the North and Northwest of Rio de Janeiro state as a semi-arid area has reignited the debate about public policies for rural areas in Rio de Janeiro. In a video released on social media, the former mayor of Rio and pre-candidate for state governor, Eduardo Paes (PSD), described the decision as a "concrete injustice" against farmers in the region.
According to him, 22 municipalities in Rio de Janeiro should be officially included in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The proposal, according to the report, had been unanimously approved in the Senate and also in the committees of the Chamber of Deputies, but was ultimately vetoed.
Direct impact on the field
The recognition of these areas would allow family farmers to access programs already existing in other regions of the country, such as the Garantia-Safra (Crop Insurance Program). This benefit provides a payment of R$ 1.200 to families who lose a significant portion of their production due to drought.
Paes cited municipalities such as Campos, Itaperuna, São Fidélis, and São João da Barra as examples of locations that could be included. According to him, producers in these regions would be on equal footing with farmers from states like Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, and areas of the Northeast.
Data indicates worsening drought.
In the video, the pre-candidate also mentions studies that indicate climate change in the region. He states that the National Institute of the Semi-Arid Region itself acknowledges the advance of desertification in Northern Rio de Janeiro State.
Furthermore, academic research from universities such as UENF and UFRJ indicates a reduction in rainfall, with levels below 800 millimeters in cities like Campos. The aforementioned projection suggests that the region may acquire semi-arid characteristics in the coming decades.
Pressure to overturn veto
Given the situation, Paes is advocating for the veto to be overturned and states that he will seek political support to revive the project. According to him, the effort involves parliamentarians from different parties, including leaders of the PSD in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
The former mayor also stated that his position is not linked to ideological alignments, but to the defense of the state's interests. "When Rio loses, I denounce it," he declared.
The discussion on the topic should continue in the National Congress, where parliamentarians can analyze whether to uphold or overturn the veto. Meanwhile, rural producers in the region remain without access to the benefit provided for in the proposal.
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