Agroecologia e produção orgânica na Região Noroeste do Estado do Rio de Janeiro: tecnologias sociais e políticas públicas

Abstract

Agroecology and organic production have grown in Brazil, since the 80’s, as alternatives to the rural development model preconized by the green revolution. However, the transition from conventional agriculture to organic agriculture have specifics, which take in count the social, environmental and economic aspects, principally in regions were agricultural activities are performed by family farmers. The case study is about the scenario of organic production in the northwest region of the Rio de Janeiro state, more specifically, the evolution of family farmers who are members of social control organizations (OCS) since the implementation of the PAIS project in 2009 and the support promoted by the Rio Rural Program. By analyzing the existing documentation, observing and participating in the dynamics of construction of agroecological knowledge, and formulating surveys, it was possible to verify the effectiveness of the public policies that operate in the region and to identify the difficulties encountered by organic producers in the region in the process of guaranteeing organic conformity and adequacy with organic legislation. Of the 165 units of PAIS project, implemented since 2009, 98 have converted to organic agriculture in 2014, with the passing of the years and the terminus of the period of technical assistance and project execution, these numbers suffered a fall, in 2017 there were 48 units active in the the National Register of Organic Production - CNPO. The results show the necessity of adjusts (mainly in the continuity of ATER support) and investments in social control activities that facilitate the adequacy of these farmers, avoiding abandonment in the implementation of organic production and stimulating the participation of organized groups in the market channels of direct sale (PAA, PNAE, fairs, baskets)