Financing for renewable energy projects granted by BRDE (Regional Development Bank of the Far South), through the Banco do Agricultor Paranaense program, surpassed the R$300 million mark in credits.
The initiative, launched in 2021, is one of the Paraná State Government's main tools for fostering agribusiness and sustainable development in the state. To date, 2.171 projects have been approved with subsidized credit.
Of this total, approximately R$80 million corresponds to economic subsidies made possible by Fomento Paraná, with resources from the FDE (Economic Development Fund) — a mechanism that allows for the partial or total return of interest paid by producers.
The so-called interest equalization is the program's main distinguishing feature. In practice, the State Government refunds part—or all—of the interest paid on the financing, based on criteria such as the producer's size, the financed activity, and the region where the project will be implemented.
Municipalities with an HDI (Human Development Index) below the state average receive even greater incentives as a way to stimulate regional development.
"In regions with more obstacles, interest rate equalization ensures that producers can invest without being disadvantaged. It's a way to ensure development occurs in a more balanced manner," explains BRDE's administrative director, Heraldo Neves.
In addition to family farmers, larger producers can also access the benefits, as long as they invest in strategic areas such as solar energy, biomass, irrigation, and rural tourism.
Solar energy leads financed projects
Renewable energy projects, especially solar energy, lead the way in approved investments within the Farmers' Bank. For BRDE Vice President Renê Garcia, the adoption of this technology reflects a growing drive for energy autonomy and cost reduction.
"The adoption of renewable energy has grown because it combines savings and autonomy in the field. Because it's affordable and has a predictable return, the investment becomes viable and helps address one of the main challenges faced by producers: high electricity costs. The savings translate into reinvestment, and the production cycle improves," he emphasizes.
Biomass has also been gaining ground, particularly in regions with intensive organic waste production. Furthermore, sectors such as large-scale poultry and pig farming indirectly benefit from the program by using solar energy systems to power structures such as breeding facilities and warehouses.
These projects, even if focused on animal production, can be classified as renewable energy projects and are therefore eligible for the grant. Furthermore, dairy farming also stands out among the beneficiaries, with the resources being applied to modernizing processes, acquiring equipment, and increasing productivity.
How to access the resources?
To access the benefits of the Farmers' Bank, producers must contact one of the credit unions affiliated with BRDE. The full list of institutions is available at bank's official website.
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