“Saiu o dinheiro do coco?”: Avaliação de processo da Política de Garantia de Preços Mínimos para os Produtos da Sociobiodiversidade (PGPM-Bio) para a amêndoa do babaçu no Médio Mearim, Maranhão

Abstract

The main objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of the Minimum Price Guarantee Policy for Sociobiodiversity Products (PGPM-Bio) and its effects on the social organization of babassu coconut breakers in the Médio Mearim, Maranhão, where about one third of the national production of almonds occur. A decade after the public policy’s creation, social actors engaged in extractivism demand studies on the effectiveness of its implementation. In the 2009-2018 period, 48% of PGPM-Bio's resources were channeled for babassu almonds. The action research methodology provided the involvement of representation and advisory institutions and the manifestation of local social subjects on the implementation scenarios of PGPM-Bio. The need for the involvement of direct beneficiaries and those who make the access to PGPM-Bio viable for babassu-nut breakers (mediating agents) led to the adoption of participatory tools that are easy to understand and implement. The results obtained include the identification and analysis of the performance of eight mediating agents’ categories, either linked to formal organizations (union, association, cooperative, Miqcb, government agencies) or not (informal group, independent dispatcher, trader), with 14 initiatives selected in 10 municipalities. Qualitative information from the experiences expressed by mediating agents received quantitative treatment through competence radar charts. More than 240 beneficiary babassu-nut breakers participated in collective activities and narrated their perceptions about the effect of the access to the economic subsidy, in the 2016 to 2018 period. Quantitative information was analyzed using community radar charts. The triangulation of information highlighted the potential and limitations of the policy, mediating agents, and social organizations involved. Results highlight the breadth of access to the resource and the heterogeneity of the forms of appropriation, decision-making autonomy and management strategies. The evaluation showed that initiatives carried out by Rural Workers' Unions were more effective, in contrast to those of informal groups, the cooperative and independent dispatcher, which were less effective and demand additional efforts. The research contributed to the groups’ organizational strategy, as they started to think and act through support and partnership networks, and formed the PGPM-Bio Commission in the Médio Mearim.