EN 
PT_BR Goiás is today one of the states with the lowest number of people in food insecurity in Brazil. This finding comes from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), which released on Friday (10) the latest edition of the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD Contínua). According to the survey, food insecurity in the state fell 24.6% in 2024, a result that places Goiás among the five states with the best performance in the country.
IBGE results reflect the direct impact of actions implemented in the state by Goiás Social.
Currently, more than 2.3 million families in Goiás live in food security, with regular access to adequate and quality meals. This number represents a significant increase of 10.1% compared to 2023, consolidating a trend of improvement in all levels of food insecurity severity. The research also indicates that Goiás achieved the second largest decrease in Brazil in the number of households with severe food insecurity, going from 102,000 to 65,000 homes. This number represents a reduction of 36.3%, much higher than the national average of 19.9%.
The results reflect the direct impact of the actions implemented by Goiás Social, a program coordinated by First Lady Gracinha Caiado and recognized as the largest and most comprehensive poverty alleviation program in Brazil. “There is no dignity with hunger. Governor Ronaldo Caiado has worked from day one to ensure that no one is forgotten in Goiás, guaranteeing dignity in times of emergency and then providing the tools for families to overcome vulnerability. That is why today Goiás Social is a national benchmark in the fight against poverty,” stated Gracinha Caiado.
Among the programs that make up this policy, the Restaurante do Bem (Restaurant of Good) maintains 17 operating units throughout the state, serving nutritious meals to people in situations of social vulnerability. Since 2019, more than 22 million meals have been delivered, with a total investment of R$156 million. The Mães de Goiás (Mothers of Goiás) program guarantees a monthly income transfer of R$300 to women with children up to six years old. This initiative has already benefited more than 200,000 users in all 246 municipalities of Goiás, with an accumulated investment of R$962 million since 2021.
Furthermore, the NutreBem Program distributes the Mix do Bem, a nutritious food composed of rice, soy protein, and dehydrated vegetables, benefiting thousands of families throughout the state. Since 2019, the state government has also distributed 1.6 million basic food baskets, in partnership with OVG, the Military Police, and the Fire Department. The Social Ombudsman, another arm of the program, provides direct assistance to vulnerable families in the Goiânia Metropolitan Region. The Food Bank, which operates in partnership with Ceasa and the Secretariat of Agriculture, has also provided approximately 150,000 services, benefiting more than 400 social institutions and thousands of families, with an investment of R$ 8.5 million.
For Gracinha Caiado, continuous social investment and a focus on concrete results are what makes Goiás a national benchmark in reducing poverty and hunger, demonstrating that planned and integrated public policies can transform realities and guarantee a more dignified future for all. “The IBGE numbers confirm that the public policies of the Goiás government are indeed transforming lives. This is our greatest mission. Each food basket delivered, each meal served, each mother benefited represents more than just numbers. It is hope, it is dignity, and it is a future for thousands of families in Goiás,” she concludes.
