Agricultura orgânica no desenvolvimento rural local: estudo de caso na associação agroecológica de Teresópolis, RJ

Abstract

The implementation of sustainable agricultural systems depends on profound changes in the paradigm of development in contemporary society, among other aspects, in the elaboration of agricultural development strategies that are based on local and regional production. In this study, agronomic reflections and analyzes are carried out through the environmental practices and issues of the organic agriculture producers linked to the Agroecological Association of Teresópolis (AAT), state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, based on the social, environmental, cultural and environmental categories. economic, to respond if the experiences in the Participative Guarantee System (SPG), organic agriculture, especially the AAT, contribute to the processes of local rural development. The research covered a historical trajectory of agroecology and organic agriculture and was based on the regulations and legislation that guide organic agriculture in Brazil. The methodology used was the research-participant with bibliographic review based on multireferentiality, field research and oral history, in a methodological triangulation that included visits to agricultural production units, participant observation followed by individual interviews, and application of a semi-structured questionnaire. The analyzes and reflections of the data considered that in spite of the ignorance of the farmers about the programs and public policies in force in Brazil for organic agriculture, and without receiving any governmental support (subsidy), the associates are predominantly owners of their lands, educated, organized, operate in GSP in accordance with organic production, and their agroecological practices are participatory. We conclude that AAT contributes to local rural development processes.