Dinâmicas e estratégias da agricultura familiar : uma proposta agroecológica em São Miguel do Anta-MG

Abstract

This research proposes a discussion around Geography approaches as a science capable of explaining realities about the dynamics and strategies of family farming in the municipality of São Miguel do Anta - MG. In this way, family farming has become a valuable link between geographic science and agroecology. For this analysis, the concepts of territory and territorialities were used as guides to identify the relationships between family farmers and public institutions that work in the field and the union of rural workers in the municipality of São Miguel do Anta-MG. Seeking advances in the conceptual and methodological bases, a classification was made in three agroecological levels, namely: I - Under construction, II - In consolidation and III - Advanced, for this the work was divided into two parts. In the first, a bibliographic survey was carried out on the importance of agroecology, family farming and the challenges facing agribusiness. In the second phase, data collection, interviews and experiences were carried out through field work. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with employees of public companies, workers' unions and rural workers and with fifteen family farmers residing in the Capivara Community. In which, when using the SWOT analysis as a way of investigating and interpreting the results collected in the field, it gave us the answer in which agroecological level it fits. It was observed that agroecology is still a challenge both for public companies that operate in the field, whether due to lack of personnel or technical assistance, or due to the difficulty encountered by some family farmers, such as generational succession. Even with some actions to encourage agroecology, only 4 rural properties can be considered at an advanced level, 5 properties are under consolidation and 4 under construction. Continuing in the opposite direction to the agribusiness that has increasingly depredated water resources in Brazilian territory, we discovered that it is necessary to reflect on the importance of family farming today when we think about continuing to propose dialogues of agroecological knowledge with family farmers for an agriculture that is truly sustainable.