A organização do trabalho familiar sob a influência do cultivo do dendê na comunidade Santa Maria/Tomé-Açu-Pará

Abstract

In this dissertation, my intention was to analyze the new evidence of family work in a context of incentive to the specialization for palm oil cultivation. A study was conducted in a district in the municipality of Tomé-Açu/PA, one of the centers of oil palm production in the State of Pará. This municipality is different forms of agriculture (family and agribusiness) and labor relations, standing out in the state scenario for the production of fruits, pepper of the kingdom, food crops and recently palm oil in the scope of the Sustainable Production Program Of Palma de Óleo, as of 2010.Oil palm is a monoculture produced by agribusinesses or by integrated family farms (contract agriculture). The objective of this research is to analyze the work organization of peasants who grow palm oil through integration contracts with the company Belém Bioenergia Brasil. The research was conducted in the rural village of Santa Maria in the municipality of Tomé-Açu, northeast of the state of Pará. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used, including primary and secondary data collection and a literature review. A case study was conducted with all family farmers who have integration contracts and live in the area. The research involved observation and (structured and non-directive) interviews. Observations were conducted both in homes and in the field. Interviews were carried out with heads of household. In addition, informal conversations took place with other members of the district about local background, religious and leisure manifestations, work options and working arrangements. Main conclusions revealed that family work has been redefined as a result of oil palm cultivation. Thus: i) production systems include manioc, oil palm, fruits, rice, maize, beans and small animals; ii) the family workforce is not sufficient to manage either the quantity or the quality of the work, because oil palm demands the physical strength of young men; iii) most women only carry out tasks associated to fertilization, which does not require physical strength, with a few exceptions; iv) Concentration of women in domestic activities;v) some young people, members of integrated families, migrate to work as wage earners in oil palm agribusinesses; vi) the need to hire the labor of integrated peasants, as day laborers, in all establishments for tasks in the cultivation of palm oil in order to fulfill a contract and vii) migration of some young people from the domestic groups to work for wage earners in oil palm industries.Despite this new scenario, influenced by the advent of the integration of family farmers into oil palm cultivation, prospects are promising in terms of an improvement in living standards and income.