The Food Acquisition Program (PAA) as a strategy to face the challenges of COVID-19

Abstract

This article analyzed the Food Acquisition Program (PAA) as a tool to mitigate the economic and social impacts of COVID-19 in Brazil. The study conducted investment projections and analyzed the conditions to operate the program during the pandemic, adopting quantitative-qualitative analysis. As for the quantitative approach, the study worked with projections of public policy investments; the qualitative policy was carried out with unstructured interviews with key actors. The results showed that, in an optimal scenario, the rise of investment could provide a wide capillarization of the benefits of the program. The results point out that the PAA is strategic to face the negative effects of COVID-19 because it helps family farming products reach the consumers, structuring production chains, facilitating access to new markets, and inducing economic dynamics, in addition to combating hunger and extreme poverty of families living in vulnerability. Also, the research found that the program is in operational conditions and adapted to the reality of the pandemic, following protocols established by health authorities. Therefore, the PAA can minimize health and economic crises for the most vulnerable population. It addresses the demands of the organized civil society and recommendations from national and international organizations specialized in reducing the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords:
COVID-19; food and nutrition security; vulnerable populations; economic impact; Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos