Transição agroecológica: sonho ou realidade?: uma reflexão do Pólo Rio Capim do PROAMBIENTE

Abstract

It identifies and analyzes changes in agricultural and nonagricultural practice which took place in small farms of community agents and family farmers in Polo Rio Capim do PROAMBIENTE. The aims of this study were achieved through a field research where qualitative and quantitative approaches were used, having also used methodological tools, questionnaires, interviews and observation. The individuals (agents and farmers) were analyzed in two different ways: Type A agents and famers, type B agents and famers, and type C agents and famers. The identified training processes were classified in five classes: 1- course in production techniques and product processing, 2- interchange and days of field, 3- course in rural property management, 4- participation in events and, 5- others. The identified changes were analyzed qualitatively by analyzing interviews. Quantitatively there was an evaluation of variants which were investigated (mechanization, use of fire, use of pesticides and fertilizers, hiring labor, exchanging days of work and team work, family income, taking courses, production, quality of products, spending on production, spending on family, occurrence of pests and diseases and diseases in family) among individuals (agents and farmers) of types A, B, and C, and levels of answers (increased, didn’t change or decreased). The conclusions reveal that type A agents suffered high influence of training processes before PROAMBIENTE, and this resulted in changes in agricultural practices in their farms. Type B agents have a hard time introducing agro-ecological actions due to the lack of time because of their political / syndical involvement and other activities out of their farms. Type B and C agents have a high level of political involvement and also have low level of training and that has influence in not introducing agro-ecological actions. Overall, the processes of technical training that generated changes in agricultural properties, independently of the type they were classified, were promoted by PROAMBIENTE. Finally, the agro-ecological transition in the properties of the people who were interviewed will not happen by replacing and or eliminating agricultural pesticides and fertilizers, it will happen by thinking how to use natural resources, and these were the key elements of family agriculture in the Amazon.