Práticas Educativas na Utilização de Herbicidas na abacaxicultura

Abstract

This research was carried out at the Federal Institute of Education of Pará - IFPA, Conceição do Araguaia Campus, with thirty students, fifteen of them are students from the Environmental Management course and the other fifteen are students from the Agronomy course, starting in the academic year 2015.The main objective was to develop and evaluate educational practices on the rational use of herbicides in pineapple farming, culture of a highlight of the municipality under study. We believe that the agricultural school curriculum should provide the training of students in three basic dimensions: food production in a sustainable way; fixing of man in the field; conservation and environmental recovery. We used a qualitative-quantitative research methodology, culminating in the application of questionnaires with open and closed questions. 30 questionnaires were applied, initially separating the participating and non-participating groups; 30 questionnaires with rural pineapple producers and 30 questionnaires, in the final project stage, with the group of participating students. For the evaluation of the questions applied to the students, pre-tests and post-tests were performed. For qualitative analysis, conceptual maps to farmers were applied as a teaching and learning tool. This pedagogical practice aimed to favor the development of the students’ autonomy and the relationship of previous knowledge with those seized. In the quantitative analysis, parametric (ANOVA and Tukey’s Test) and non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s Test) were used. At the end of the methodological proposal an exhibition of empty containers of agrochemicals was carried out, in order to sensitize the student community about the potential of environmental damages and the health of residents of the region.