PODE O MODELO CHINÊS DE COMBATE A FOME AJUDAR A SOLUCIONAR AS DESIGUALDADES DO MATOPIBA?

Abstract

The Matopiba region – an acronym formed by the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia – has consolidated itself in recent decades as Brazil’s main agricultural frontier, displaying significant growth in agribusiness production and strong integration into global commodity chains. Paradoxically, this economic dynamism has been accompanied by deepening socioeconomic inequalities, land concentration, territorial conflicts, and environmental degradation, revealing the limits of agricultural expansion as a mechanism for inclusive development. Grounded in a multidimensional understanding of poverty as a socially produced phenomenon, this article critically examines the development model of the Matopiba in light of China’s experience in poverty alleviation, structured around its Five-Year Plans. The Chinese case demonstrates that successful poverty reduction results from the combination of long-term state planning, targeted public policies, decentralized implementation, and an emphasis on building productive capacities, elements made possible by the political decisions undertaken in the so-called 1949 Revolution. Based on this comparative analysis, the study proposes policy guidelines aimed at reducing inequalities in the Matopiba by linking economic growth with social inclusion and territorial development. The article concludes that adapting elements of the Chinese model – while respecting Brazil’s institutional and regional specificities – may contribute to a more inclusive development trajectory in the region.