Potencialidades e limitações para a adoção de práticas agroecológicas: Estudo de caso no Assentamento São José da Boa Morte - Cachoeiras de Macacu-RJ

Abstract

Based on the assumption that the market has a great impact on the agroecological principles known to the farmers, a study was carried out to evaluate the potentialities and limitations for the adoption of agroecological practices among ten farmers in the São José da Boa Morte settlement, in the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu -RJ. The data collection was carried out from semi-structured interviews, raising aspects related to the social, agroecological / environmental and economic dimensions. Farmers are over 40 years of age and, in six production units, at least one child is engaged in farming, mainly as a Sharecropper. All farmers interviewed participated or participated in organizational forms in the settlement. They choose their crops mainly due to the market potential and the planting tradition. They are interested in the planting of tree species, prioritizing the fruit trees, choosing them due to the provision of food for their families and for wild animals, to be able to contribute to increase family income, among other reasons. The preferred places for planting are near their homes and along the fences or limitations of the production units, aiming at personal and family welfare, delimitation and / or use of area, as well as aspects related to the ambience and the environment climate. The interviewees used or used at least one agroecological practice, such as the application of alternative pesticides for pest control, green manuring, planting of Diodia saponariifolia to control competing plants, mowing and mulching, crop rotation and application of liquid biofertilizer, representing potentialities for the resumption of agroecological principles. Only two respondents sell part of the production to the National School Feeding Program (PNAE), although eight producers have the PRONAF Aptitude Statement (DAP), constituting a limitation to crop diversification. The greatest difficulty for participation in the program is the lack of information on the part of farmers. All sell to brokers, but six also carry out or direct sales to consumers and five are interested in expanding this form of marketing, having as main difficulties the reduced amount of agricultural products absorbed by the local market and the lack of availability of transport. Of the ten, eight farmers have problems with excessive rainfall in the summer, which restricts sowing of olericulture and grains for approximately six months. The greater participation of community representatives with municipal and state entities, seeking information on the PNAE, PAA and public policies focused on the agricultural sector may contribute to the improvement of the local marketing process. Farmers will be able to resume the planting of some crops, inserting them in the "designs" of crops, contributing to the increase of biodiversity; multiply their experiences and, therefore, resume the implementation of more stable systems, towards agroecological production.