Financing School Meals: limits and advances in the supply and acquisition of produce from family farming

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of school feeding in relation to the funding of the supply of products from family farming. The National School Feeding Program (PNAE) is responsible for providing daily meals to students in public schools across the country, with nutritional value that ensures good development. The menu should be varied, including foods such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes, which are considered healthy and are produced within the context of Family Farming (AF). The general objective is to analyze the funding of school feeding in the four most populous municipalities of Maranhão, between the years 2019 and 2022. Specifically, it aims to verify the percentage applied to the acquisition of products from AF, as determined by the Program. The methodology included documentary and bibliographic research, with consultations made on the FNDE website, as well as the analysis of articles and dissertations available in repositories and scientific journals. The results of this study demonstrate that, although resources have been transferred to the executing entities, in some situations, the minimum percentage of 30% acquisition of AF products has not been achieved, showing variations. According to school censuses, adjustments have been implemented to improve the program's performance. It is concluded that, given the relevance of the work done, it is essential to guarantee the annual readjustment of these resources.