Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte launch plans to boost goat and cashew farming

In Paraíba, pre‑governor candidate Cícero Lucena announced a caprinoculture incentive programme that will supply ten dairy goats to each small‑scale farmer and support a new goat‑milk powder plant capable of processing 50,000 litres a day. Lucena criticised the state’s current approach as “mere publicity” and called for the revitalisation of the state’s agricultural research agency, EMPA, to deliver real technical aid to producers.

In Rio Grande do Norte, officials highlighted the growth of cajucultura, noting the state’s leading productivity of 550 kg of cashew almonds per hectare and a per‑capita GDP of R$ 52,300 in Serra do do Mel. The Sabre‑RN project aims to assist 800 producers across more than 4,000 ha with improved clonal seedlings, technical assistance and market access, while the regional cashew received a Geographical Indication label. Both initiatives seek to generate jobs, increase farm incomes and expand Brazil’s presence in niche agro‑export markets.