Agroecologia e Educação Agrícola: alternativa sustentável para agricultura familiar no município de Seropédica

Abstract

The aim of this work is to research the city of Seropedica and the main Teaching, Research and Extension Institutions inside the city, as well as how the application of ecologic concepts and principles to agroecosystems may help production on a more sustainable way. We have also studied the main problems that family agriculture faces nowadays, showing the great paradigm that exists on this kind of agriculture. We also seek to list some elements that might help us understand the relationship between education and labor, as well as the questions that permeate agricultural education. This research was accomplished aiming at investigating if Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, the Technical School of Rural University, Embrapa Agrobiology and the Agriculture Research Enterprise of Rio de Janeiro influence the family farmers from the city with their agroecological practices or not. Along the study, we have especially prioritized characterizing the family agriculture from the city, identifying the most used techniques by the farmers in their productions and finding out the action of those Institutions in the city. The present work is classified as an applied exploratory qualiquantitative research, shaped as a case study. However, the research has also pointed out that the Institutions may and must start interacting with those family farmers by providing technical assistance, guidance and technical attendance to them. However, we hope this research may contribute to the desired interaction among family farmers, among Institutions that work in the city, the City Hall and the farmers. Consequently, we want the creation and strengthening of ecological family farmers networks in the city of Seropedica.