The main goal of the paper is to evaluate the experience of PRONAF on the farmers of the state of Pernambuco. The data used include information on, approximately, 4.500 farmers from this State. The results are presented for the whole sample, excluding the "assentados", and by groups (B, C e D). The estimates are corrected for the existence of participation bias through the use propensity score method. The effectiveness of the program is also considered in the analysis. When the differences of characteristics and probabilities of participation are factored in, the main findings point that, although effective, the program has not shown significant impacts on the considered state.
family farm; PRONAF; propensity score
