Paraguay: Information Requested on 'Hambre Cero' Program Contracts and Suppliers

Senator Colym Soroka has formally requested detailed reports from Paraguay's Ministry of Social Development (MDS) concerning the "Hambre Cero" (Zero Hunger) school feeding program in the Central department. The initiative, a flagship program of President Santiago Peña's administration, is under scrutiny as Soroka seeks to identify all companies awarded food provision contracts and the family farmers who supply these businesses.

The request gains particular significance as Soroka's own bill to modify the program's administrative structure has been pending for several months. The resolution mandates that the MDS, led by Tadeo Rojas, must submit a physical and digital report within 15 days, detailing the awarded companies and the list of family farmers involved in the supply chain. Soroka stated that this information is crucial for understanding the program's execution and the extent of small producers' participation.

This move coincides with the legislative review of a proposal to decentralize the "Hambre Cero" program. The bill suggests that the MDS would continue managing the program only in Asunción, Central, and Presidente Hayes departments. In the rest of the country, program execution would shift to municipal governments, moving away from the current system managed by provincial governments. The objective is to bolster family farming through more direct local procurement, reduce commercial intermediation, stimulate district economies, and ensure fresher food for students. The proposal also includes enhanced public fund controls, requiring semiannual reports to the Comptroller General's Office and establishing direct patrimonial responsibility for officials in cases of embezzlement.