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Brazil land occupation targets ag minister’s soy farm

SAO PAULO – Hundreds of landless farmers in Brazil have invaded and occupied a soybean plantation owned by a company belonging to Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi.

The takeover by some 500 people was organized by the Landless Rural Workers’ Movement, which encourages the seizure of farmland it deems unproductive as a tactic to pressure the government.

The movement said in a statement that Tuesday’s occupation was part of a campaign to promote land reform and also a protest against corruption and the administration of President Michel Temer.

Amaggi, the company owned by Maggi, confirmed the invasion of the 480 hectare (1,200 acre) farm in the central-western state of Mato Grosso.

Amaggi said in a statement it would take the legal measures to evict the protesters.

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