Brazil Appoints First Female Minister of Agriculture
BRAZIL - In a ceremony held on Monday 5 January, at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), Senator Katia Abreu took over from the former minister, Neri Geller, as the Minister of Agriculture.
7 January 2015
1 minute read
Ms Abreu is the twenty-hundredth person to hold the position and is the first female Minister of Agriculture.
During her speech, the new Minister said she hopes to expand the Brazilian rural middle class.
"We set a goal of doubling the rural middle class over the next four years. Brazil now has more than five million farmers, and 70 per cent in classes D and E, six per cent in classes A and B, and only 15 per cent, approximately 800,000 producers in the C class," she said.
Ms Abreu also commented that it will be important to consolidate a national plan for agricultural defense.
"We want technical strength to ensure reliability for our customers in Brazil and worldwide. The goal is to ensure standardisation, transparency and security," she explained.
In farewell speech, Neri Geller praised the appointment of Senator Katia Abreu to the position and assessed it as a positive action towards the department's development.
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