Challenges of family agriculture in support of the agroecological production in Tangará da Serra -MT

Abstract

Over the years, the agroecological production has been gaining ground in small properties. This fact is given by the various incentives occurring in regional, state and national level. Regionally, the livestock agriculture and supply department of the town Tangara da Serra (SEAPA) have developed a Integrated Agroecology Production project and Sustainable in an experimental unit and wanted to test it in local farms. On the other hand a group of ten producers in the rural community Vale do Sol I applied with SEAPA a support to produce differently and increase family income. The goal of the research was to identify the challenges to be overcome by the producers in the rural community Vale do Sol I in favor of agro-ecological production. This is a qualitative research with the support of interviews applied to technical professionals of SEAPA and farmers. As a result, it was possible to know the current production system, the physical and monetary resources available, as well as the infrastructure of production units. The survey indicates that the main motivation of farmers to the agro-ecological production is in search of competitive advantage, with the launch of a new brand. To initiate the activities of changes in the conventional production system for agroecological, it was sought support and guidance from the agricultural technicians of the city hall, the representative Policy Center for Economic solidarity and professors. The lack of water and the paper of the land are the main stumbling blocks to raising funds for the necessary investments. Collective work demonstrations have been identified as an alternative to overcome difficulties of transportation and marketing, while production still has been individualized. Despite the indentified difficulties, it is concluded to be possible for small farmers to produce an integrated and sustainable manner provided since it is made the adjustments recommended in the properties and the collective work is formalized in association or cooperative. As further research, it is suggested to be done other studies in the same community in order to check the adjustments that occurred in the properties and the acceptance of the local market for the consumption of agro-ecological products.