The abundance of natural resources in Brazil has long been at odds with the country’s poverty. In the past few decades, Brazil has tried to modernize the economy and make life better for its citizens. Today, Brazil has a strong middle class as people move away from agriculture and into work at factories and offices, and in professions such as medicine, education, and government.
Despite the growing middle-class, Brazil still has people living in dire poverty. The poorest people in Brazil live in favelas outside of the cities. The families in these slum communities have trouble caring for their children. Many hungry children beg for money and food on the streets in Brazil.
The plantation system contributes to the poverty in Brazil. A handful of wealthy people owns large amounts of the land on which they have their commercial farms. Farmers in Brazil either work on plantations or their own subsistence plots that grow just enough food to support their families. In the 1990s, people protested against the inequity of land distribution. The president at the time promised change, but millions of people in Brazil are still without land of their own. In addition, many people live in the sertão region where there is poor soil and drought are frequent and severe. The farmers who live in this region cannot afford the farm equipment that could make the land more productive.
Food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to enough food due to lack of money or resources. Here’s what that looks like in Brazil.
Percentage of households with food insecurity in 2014
What do you notice about food insecurity in Brazil?
| Your Responses | Sample Answers |
|---|---|
| You might have noticed that food insecurity is most common in the Amazon River Basin and the Northeast regions. Even in the areas of lowest food insecurity, some 14-27% (up to one-quarter) of families are struggling with hunger. |
