FiNCO farms for knowledge exchange: A Colombian seed for a good Anthropocene.

Returning to Earth's safe operating space requires driving social-ecological transformations toward a new human-nature configuration, while navigating changes and creatively dealing with crises. Family farms in the Colombian Andes have been navigating changes by using modalities of integrated management that recognize family interdependence with nature, which illustrates social-ecological resilience on a small scale. We potentiated family farming by creating FiNCO (Farms for knowledge exchange) as a strategy that renews the connection between disciplines, academia and farmers, and the rural and urban sectors, in order to promote knowledge co-production and landscape stewardship. In this sense, FiNCO is considered as a seed for a good Anthropocene. This paper is an invitation to plant FiNCO seeds in different social-ecological contexts and to share those experiences as an ideal way to create abilities to transform the upcoming humanity challenges into opportunities for humanity's needed transformation.

The economic effects of grazing in small-scale lamb fattening production systems in central México through a scenario analysis.

The objective was to assess grazing as an element of profitability and competitiveness of a small-scale lamb fattening production system in central México and compare its economic performance by means of an analysis of scenarios. Two scenarios were analysed to assess the contribution of grazing on profitability and competitiveness. The first analysis was when grazing was the feed base, and secondly, costs of opportunity and economic impacts were studied under the assumption that sheep do not graze, and total feed has to be bought from external suppliers. The economic effect of grazing on the profitability was analysed by means of the Policy Analysis Matrix. Differences were found between strata; farmers with more than 70 sheep have the best profitability indices and the least vulnerability under the non-grazing scenario. Grazing had a positive effect reducing the cost of production and increasing competitiveness in the four strata assessed. However, farmers with higher technical level, specialised breeds and larger flocks (strata 3 and 4) have higher economic profits. The conclusion was that the profitability in fattening sheep is linked to taking advantage of grazing. However, to keep and improve the current financial performance, there is a need for the adoption of strategies for an integral improvement of the system and the adoption of better grazing management to further reduce production costs.

Análise da adequação normativa de chamadas públicas para compra de alimentos dos agricultores familiares destinados ao programa nacional de alimentação escolar / Analysis of the normative adequacy of public calls for food from family farmers for the national school feeding program

A agricultura familiar rural tem ancorado as famílias produtoras de alimentos por meio do Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos e do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar, com atenção a questão social, além de incentivar e facilitar o escoamento dessa produção. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi verificar o cumprimento da Lei nº 11.947/2009 e regulamentações no Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE), analisando as características dos documentos publicados entre janeiro e julho de 2013. Foram localizados duzentos e um editais de chamada públicas pesquisados por meio eletrônico, com representação de todas as Regiões do País. Os resultados indicaram características não conformes à legislação vigente para a maioria das Entidades Executoras, com falhas na informação dada ao produtor familiar rural, principalmente quanto ao cronograma de entrega e indicação da prioridade na escolha do projeto de venda. Considerando os resultados, concluiu-se que grande parte dos gestores deixou de colocar em prática a Lei nº 11.947/2009 e regulamentações, com maior proporção de não conformidades nas regiões Centro Oeste, Nordeste e Norte, alertando para a necessidade de fiscalização rigorosa e efetiva às EEx. por parte dos órgãos fiscalizadores para o cumprimento da legislação vigente, assim como para uma melhor orientação aos produtores familiares rurais sobre esse assunto, evitando a continuidade de procedimentos não conformes.(AU)

Rural family agriculture has anchored the food producing families through the Food Acquisition Program and the National School Feeding Program, with attention to the social issue, besides encouraging and facilitating the disposal of this production. The objective of this research was to verify compliance with Law 11.947 / 2009 and regulations in the National School Feeding Program (PNAE), analyzing the characteristics of the documents published between January and July 2013. Two hundred and one public call notices were searched by electronic means, with representation from all Regions of the Country. The results indicated characteristics that do not conform to the legislation in force for most of the Executing Entities, with deficiencies in the information given to the rural family producer, mainly regarding the delivery schedule and indication of priority in the choice of the sales project. Considering the results, the conclusion is that most of the managers failed to put into practice Law 11.947 / 2009 and regulations, with a higher proportion of nonconformities in the Midwest, Northeast and North regions, alerting to the need for rigorous and effective supervision to the EEx. by the enforcement agencies to comply with current legislation, as well as to provide guidance to rural family farmers on the subject, avoiding the continuation of non-compliant procedures.

Impacts of Agricultural Practices and Individual Life Characteristics on Ecosystem Services: A Case Study on Family Farmers in the Context of an Amazonian Pioneer Front.

In tropical forests farmers are among the most important agents of deforestation. At the interface between societies and their environment, ecosystem services (ES) is an integrated working framework through which natural and anthropogenic dimensions can be addressed. Here, we aimed to understand to what extent farmers impact ES availability. Based on case studies in three locations in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, we performed statistical analyses at 135 sampling points and 110 farms to link socioeconomic and ES data, both derived from field work. The socioeconomic data characterized agricultural production, sociological characteristics, and quality of life. ES data were obtained from statistical analyses that yielded a multiple ES indicator for each sampling point and farm. Our results produced three main findings: first, the establishment of ES associations is due more to agricultural production characteristics than to sociological and quality-of-life factors. Second, the impact of agricultural production on ES availability depends on the level of total incomes. An increase in incomes causes a decrease in the forest cover that provides many ES and an increase in other areas that provide fewer ES. Finally, our analyses show a very strong site effect that probably expresses the heterogeneity of the biophysical contexts, but also the importance for ES availability of the historical depth of deforestation and/or the role of specific public policies. Finding ways of producing an alternative impact on ES availability and establishing specific ES associations will therefore depend more on changes in the global political context than in individual practices.

Purchase of family farm and organic foods by the Brazilian School Food Program in Santa Catarina state, Brazil / Aquisição de alimentos da agricultura familiar e orgânicos pelo Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar no estado de Santa Catarina

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the purchase of family farm and organic foods by the Brazilian School Food Program in the municipalities of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Methods This is an analytic and descriptive study conducted from 2010 to 2011. An electronic survey was sent to all 293 Santa Catarina municipalities. The Chi-square test investigated the association between the study variables. Results Between 2010 and 2011, the number of municipalities that purchased family farm foods increased by 36%, with a total of 96% of Santa Catarina municipalities buying family farming foods in 2011. Of the 96%, 70% complied with Article 14 of Law nº 11,947/2009, which determines that at least 30% of the funds provided by the National Fund for the Development of Education should be spent on family farm products, and 48% purchased organic foods. The South was the state region that most complied with Article 14 (85%; p=0.02). However, as municipality size increased, compliance with Article 14 decreased (p=0.04). The municipalities that had the most difficulties buying family farm and organic foods were those with the lowest Municipal Human Development Index and number of students. Conclusion Most Santa Catarina municipalities purchased family farm foods in 2011, and most municipalities that complied with Article 14 of Law nº 11,947/2009 were in the South state region. Finally, municipalities with low Municipal Human Development Index and number of students had the most difficulties buying family farm foods.

RESUMO Objetivo Descrever a aquisição de alimentos da agricultura familiar e alimentos orgânicos, no âmbito do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar em municípios catarinenses. Métodos Trata-se de pesquisa descritivo-analítica, realizada entre 2010 e 2011. Enviou-se um questionário eletrônico aos 293 municípios catarinenses existentes na época. Testou-se associação entre as variáveis por meio do Qui-quadrado de heterogeneidade. Resultados Entre 2010 e 2011, o número de municípios que comprava alimentos da agricultura familiar evoluiu 36%, com um total de 96% comprando deste mercado em 2011. Destes, 70% cumpriam a obrigatoriedade prevista no artigo 14 da Lei nº 11.947/2009 (investir no mínimo 30% dos recursos advindos do Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento da Educação na compra da Agricultura Familiar) e 48% compravam alimentos orgânicos. A mesorregião do estado com mais municípios que cumpriam o artigo 14 foi a região Sul (85%; p=0,02). Quanto ao porte dos municípios, observou-se que quanto maior era o número de habitantes, menor o percentual de cumprimento do artigo 14 (p=0,04). Os municípios que mais relataram dificuldades para a compra de alimentos orgânicos e da agricultura familiar foram os com menor Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano Municipal e com menor número de estudantes. Conclusão A maioria dos municípios catarinenses comprou da agricultura familiar em 2011 e a maioria dos que cumprem a meta prevista no artigo 14 da Lei nº 11.947/2009 fica na região Sul do estado. Ainda, municípios com menor Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano Municipal e menos alunos enfrentam mais dificuldades para a execução das compras.

Percepção de agricultores familiares do Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos (PAA) sobre o significado de fazer parte do PAA e a sua compreensão sobre conceitos relacionados à alimentação, nutrição e saúde / The perception of family farmers of Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos (PAA) on the meaning of being part of PAA and their understanding of concepts related to food, nutrition and health

A agricultura familiar possui um reconhecido potencial econômico, ambiental e social que nos últimos anos tem sido prestigiado e fortalecido por programas governamentais que incentivam a produção e o beneficiamento de seus produtos, sendo assim, ações de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional (SAN) podem ser implementadas, aumentando a disponibilidade de alimentos e a variabilidade de nutrientes à população, favorecendo a comercialização deles em nível local e regional, além de contribuir para hábitos alimentares saudáveis e, consequentemente, melhorar a qualidade da alimentação. O Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos (PAA) foi instituído pelo artigo 19 da Lei nº 10.696 em 2003, como uma das ações do Programa Fome Zero, seu objetivo principal é o fortalecimento da agricultura familiar. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as percepções dos agricultores sobre o significado de fazer parte do PAA e a sua compreensão sobre conceitos relacionados à alimentação, nutrição e saúde, por meio de uma pesquisa qualitativa. Os resultados do estudo foram maior acesso a informações como saúde, alimentação, formas de produção e manejo, economia, direitos e deveres, entre outras; melhora de renda e investimentos familiares; melhora da autoestima/valorização pessoal e estímulo à interação dos agricultores familiares. Nesse contexto, faz-se necessário que o PAA se torne cada vez mais um instrumento fortalecedor da agricultura familiar, das ações de saúde e de SAN e nutricional de forma permanente como proposto em sua lei de criação.

Family agriculture has a recognized economic, environmental and social potential, which in recent years has been prestigious and strengthened by government programs that encourage the production and processing of their products, thus Food and Nutrition Security actions can be implemented, increasing the availability of food and the variability of nutrients to the population, favoring the their marketing at local and regional levels, contributing to healthy eating habits and thus improving the quality of food. The Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos (PAA) [Food Acquisition Program] was established by the article 19 of Law nº 10.696 in 2003 as one of the actions of the Programa Fome Zero [Zero Hungry Program] your main goal is the strengthening of family agriculture. The objective of this study was to identify the perceptions of farmers on the meaning of being part of the PAA and their understanding of concepts related to food, nutrition and health through a qualitative research. The results of this study were greater access to information such as health, food, forms of production and management, economics, rights and duties, among others; improved income and family investments; improved self-esteem/self-worth and stimulate the interaction of family farmers. In this context, it is necessary that the PAA increasingly become an empowering tool of agriculture family in the health care and Food and Nutrition Security permanently as proposed in his law of creation.

Expectativas de los agentes de desarrollo rural argentinos sobre la Psicología y sobre la inserción profesional de los psicólogos en el ámbito de la extensión rural / Argentine rural development agents' expectations about Psychology and about the employability of psychologists in the area of rural extension

La Psicología posee una importante potencialidad para trabajar en el ámbito de la extensión y el desarrollo rural. No obstante, no existe evidencia empírica suficientemente amplia de las expectativas de los agentes de desarrollo sobre la Psicología. Por este motivo se realizó una investigación transversal de carácter cuantitativo. La muestra fue no probabilística incidental e incluyó participantes de todas las regiones de Argentina. Se encuestó a extensionistas rurales que trabajan en las principales instituciones que realizan extensión rural en el ámbito público. La encuesta, que fue respondida por 219 sujetos (9.06% del total nacional) incluyó preguntas cerradas sociodemográficas y abiertas respecto de las expectativas sobre la Psicología. Las preguntas abiertas fueron categorizadas y organizadas con el apoyo de la teoría fundamentada y el software Atlas Ti. Las categorías fueron convertidas en variables para estudiar su relación con las preguntas sociodemográficas con apoyo del software SPSS. Se concluye que la mayor parte de los extensionistas rurales del ámbito público argentino (un 88%) considera que la Psicología podría ayudarlos a resolver algunos de los problemas a los que se enfrentan, por ejemplo, brindando capacitación y asesoramiento a extensionistas rurales así como participando en equipos interdisciplinarios de extensión rural. Además, podrían trabajar directamente con productores en la gestión de procesos grupales. En términos generales, se destaca la potencialidad de la Psicología en el ámbito del trabajo grupal, la comunicación, el apoyo emocional y el cambio de actitudes y prácticas. Finalmente, se destacan las limitaciones de la investigación realizada.

Many scholars have argued that rural extension and development processes need an interdisciplinary approach, one that includes contributions from different sciences, particularly social ones. In this context, social and community psychology have a great potential to address this topic. In spite of this potentiality, psychology has produced scarce useful contributions to rural development and to extension processes. Additionally, limited empirical support has been given to probe this potentiality, which makes this a theoretical argument. Thus, a cross-sectional, quantitative investigation was conducted in Argentina. An incidental, non-probabilistic sample was used, which included participants from all regions of the country. Rural extension agents working in the National Institute of Agrarian Technology, the ProHuerta Program and the Under secretariat of Family Farming of the Ministry of Agriculture, Husbandry and Fisheries were surveyed via email. Local authorities of these institutions helped the researchers to send and receive the completed surveys indifferent ways. The reply to the poll was voluntary. 219 completed forms (143 men and 76 women) were received, which represent 9.06% of rural extensions working in public institutions in Argentina. The survey included socio-demographic,closed questions, and open ones regarding the problems faced by rural extensions in their everyday practice and their expectations about Psychology as a mean to address them. In order to analyze the open questions, different categories of analysis were built and thoroughly described to cope with ambiguous cases, which were used to categorize all replies. In this process, grounded theory and Atlas Ti software were utilized. Next, these categories were transformed into dichotomist variables, expressing the presence of the category presence of the variable and its absence, the absence of the variable. Then all variables were incorporated to SPSS software, which allowed for the quantification of the results and the study of statistical relationships between different variables. The most important result of this investigation is that 88% of the Argentine rural extensionists working in the National Institute of Agrarian Technology, the ProHuerta Program and the Under secretariat of Family Farming consider that Psychology can contribute to solve at least some of the problems they face when doing rural extension. Interestingly, this represents a very high and unexpected percentage, given psychology is not a social science traditionally related to rural issues or settings. In consequence, it is clear that there is a potential demand for psychologists in the field of rural development processes, which is not being addressed. Additionally, the replies allowed for the description of the role psychologists should fulfill when working in this field, from rural extensions’ point of view. They argue that psychologists could work with both, them and farmers. On the one hand, they could train, advice and provide with practical tools to rural extensionists. Additionally, they could take part in interdisciplinary rural extension teams. In practical terms, they could contribute in fields such as cooperative processes and group management, design and implementation of projects, understanding of small farmers’ rationale, conflict resolution, lack of adoption of technologies, and scarce participation and commitment to development projects. On the other hand, psychologists also could work directly with small farmers, providing training in different topics, and managing groups, particularly in the case of participatory processes. Additionally, they could strengthen small farmers’ self-esteem, a problem that rural extensionists related to passive attitudes and fatalism. To conclude, it is important to underline that, knowing this expected role, psychologists should start a dialogue with rural development agents in order to generate a shared conception of psychologist working in the field of rural extension, which includes both, psychologists’ and rural extensionists’ point of view.

Expectativas de los agentes de desarrollo rural argentinos sobre la Psicología y sobre la inserción profesional de los psicólogos en el ámbito de la extensión rural / Argentine rural development agents expectations about Psychology and about the employability of psychologists in the area of rural extension

La Psicología posee una importante potencialidad para trabajar en el ámbito de la extensión y el desarrollo rural. No obstante, no existe evidencia empírica suficientemente amplia de las expectativas de los agentes de desarrollo sobre la Psicología. Por este motivo se realizó una investigación transversal de carácter cuantitativo. La muestra fue no probabilística incidental e incluyó participantes de todas las regiones de Argentina. Se encuestó a extensionistas rurales que trabajan en las principales instituciones que realizan extensión rural en el ámbito público. La encuesta, que fue respondida por 219 sujetos (9.06% del total nacional) incluyó preguntas cerradas sociodemográficas y abiertas respecto de las expectativas sobre la Psicología. Las preguntas abiertas fueron categorizadas y organizadas con el apoyo de la teoría fundamentada y el software Atlas Ti. Las categorías fueron convertidas en variables para estudiar su relación con las preguntas sociodemográficas con apoyo del software SPSS. Se concluye que la mayor parte de los extensionistas rurales del ámbito público argentino (un 88%) considera que la Psicología podría ayudarlos a resolver algunos de los problemas a los que se enfrentan, por ejemplo, brindando capacitación y asesoramiento a extensionistas rurales así como participando en equipos interdisciplinarios de extensión rural. Además, podrían trabajar directamente con productores en la gestión de procesos grupales. En términos generales, se destaca la potencialidad de la Psicología en el ámbito del trabajo grupal, la comunicación, el apoyo emocional y el cambio de actitudes y prácticas. Finalmente, se destacan las limitaciones de la investigación realizada.(AU)

Many scholars have argued that rural extension and development processes need an interdisciplinary approach, one that includes contributions from different sciences, particularly social ones. In this context, social and community psychology have a great potential to address this topic. In spite of this potentiality, psychology has produced scarce useful contributions to rural development and to extension processes. Additionally, limited empirical support has been given to probe this potentiality, which makes this a theoretical argument. Thus, a cross-sectional, quantitative investigation was conducted in Argentina. An incidental, non-probabilistic sample was used, which included participants from all regions of the country. Rural extension agents working in the National Institute of Agrarian Technology, the ProHuerta Program and the Under secretariat of Family Farming of the Ministry of Agriculture, Husbandry and Fisheries were surveyed via email. Local authorities of these institutions helped the researchers to send and receive the completed surveys indifferent ways. The reply to the poll was voluntary. 219 completed forms (143 men and 76 women) were received, which represent 9.06% of rural extensions working in public institutions in Argentina. The survey included socio-demographic,closed questions, and open ones regarding the problems faced by rural extensions in their everyday practice and their expectations about Psychology as a mean to address them. In order to analyze the open questions, different categories of analysis were built and thoroughly described to cope with ambiguous cases, which were used to categorize all replies. In this process, grounded theory and Atlas Ti software were utilized. Next, these categories were transformed into dichotomist variables, expressing the presence of the category presence of the variable and its absence, the absence of the variable. Then all variables were incorporated to SPSS software, which allowed for the quantification of the results and the study of statistical relationships between different variables. The most important result of this investigation is that 88% of the Argentine rural extensionists working in the National Institute of Agrarian Technology, the ProHuerta Program and the Under secretariat of Family Farming consider that Psychology can contribute to solve at least some of the problems they face when doing rural extension. Interestingly, this represents a very high and unexpected percentage, given psychology is not a social science traditionally related to rural issues or settings. In consequence, it is clear that there is a potential demand for psychologists in the field of rural development processes, which is not being addressed. Additionally, the replies allowed for the description of the role psychologists should fulfill when working in this field, from rural extensions’ point of view. They argue that psychologists could work with both, them and farmers. On the one hand, they could train, advice and provide with practical tools to rural extensionists. Additionally, they could take part in interdisciplinary rural extension teams. In practical terms, they could contribute in fields such as cooperative processes and group management, design and implementation of projects, understanding of small farmers’ rationale, conflict resolution, lack of adoption of technologies, and scarce participation and commitment to development projects. On the other hand, psychologists also could work directly with small farmers, providing training in different topics, and managing groups, particularly in the case of participatory processes. Additionally, they could strengthen small farmers’ self-esteem, a problem that rural extensionists related to passive attitudes and fatalism. To conclude, it is important to underline that, knowing this expected role, psychologists should start a dialogue with rural development agents in order to generate a shared conception of psychologist working in the field of rural extension, which includes both, psychologists’ and rural extensionists’ point of view.(AU)

Produção orgânica de calêndula: um estudo de caso / Organic production of marigold: a case study

Apresenta-se caracterização do processo de produção agrícola orgânica de Calendula officinalis L. no Estado de Santa Catarina, evidenciando particularidades e discrepâncias frente aos modelos já descritos na literatura especializada, a partir de visitas a campo, observação participante e entrevistas com um produtor de plantas medicinais. Identificaram-se como principais particularidades a saúde na agricultura familiar, demonstrada pela prática da cultura orgânica, além do controle de pragas e manuseio da produção. Os principais problemas ou divergências evidenciados foram: características do solo; época de plantio da calêndula e suas etapas posteriores, como transplante e floração. Aspectos da colheita foram discrepantes quanto ao período do dia indicado para o procedimento, bem como a ausência de informações do produtor quanto à existência de outros incentivos governamentais ao setor agrícola. Recomenda-se aos extensionistas rurais e/ou instituições competentes que busquem orientar os produtores orgânicos de calêndula para promover a adequação das práticas de cultivo dessa espécie medicinal.

A characterization of the process of organic agriculture production of Calendula officinalis L. in the State of Santa Catarina is presented, evidencing particularities and discrepancies contrasting to the models already described in specialized literature, by field visits, participative observations and interviews with a medicinal plant producer. The main particularities identified were the health in the agricultural family, demonstrated by the practice of organic culture, besides pest control and the handling of production. The main evidenced problems or divergences were: soil characteristics; period of the marigold planting and its following stages, such as transplanting and flowering. Aspects of the crop were conflicting as for the period of the day indicated for the procedure, as well as the absence of information from the producer about the existence of other government incentives to the agricultural section. It is recommended to the rural extensions and/or competent institutions to seek for guiding the organic producers of marigold to promote adequate practices for the cultivation of this medicinal species.

Percepção de riscos do uso de agrotóxicos por trabalhadores da agricultura familiar do município de Rio Branco, AC / Risk perception associated to pesticide use among family agriculture workers in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Conhecer as percepções de risco associadas ao uso de agrotóxicos no trabalho rural de pequenos produtores rurais. MÉTODO: Estudo de percepção de riscos relacionados ao trabalho rural, realizado entre o segundo semestre de 2008 e o primeiro de 2009, com base na avaliação psicológica de 42 pequenos agricultores do município de Rio Branco, AC, por meio de questionário estruturado com questões abertas e fechadas e aplicação de escalas psicométricas. RESULTADOS: Entre as mulheres, destacou-se a invisibilidade dos riscos associados ao uso desses agentes químicos no seu cotidiano de trabalho. A maioria das mulheres participantes não percebia a seriedade dos problemas de saúde relacionados à exposição a agrotóxicos, nem identificava como perigosas as atividades de trabalho que desempenhava. Entre os homens, observou-se a construção de estratégias defensivas baseadas na negação dos riscos, tática utilizada por esses indivíduos como forma de permanecerem, dia após dia, inseridos em um processo de trabalho sabidamente injurioso. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo mostrou que a percepção de riscos daquele grupo de pequenos agricultores influencia suas práticas de trabalho e a forma como responde frente ao risco representado pelo uso de agrotóxicos, devendo ser, portanto, objeto de análise em ações de vigilância em saúde do trabalhador e no escopo de iniciativas de gerenciamento de riscos.

OBJECTIVE: To learn about risk perception associated with pesticide use in a small farming community located in Rio Branco, state of Acre, in Northern Brazil. METHODS: Psychological evaluation of 42 farmers using a structured questionnaire, with closed and open-ended questions and psychometric scales, to evaluate perception of risk related to farm work, conducted between the second half of 2008 and the first half of 2009. RESULTS: Women were unaware of the chemical risks they faced in their daily work. Most of them did not perceive how seriously pesticides could affect their health, and did not consider their job tasks as being dangerous. Among men, denial of occupational risk was observed, configuring as a strategy to continue working under knowingly harmful conditions. CONCLUSION: The study showed that risk perception in this group of small farmers influenced their work practices and the way they responded to the risks resulting from pesticide use. Risk perception should, therefore, be an object of analyses of workers' health surveillance and risk management initiatives.

Os sistemas agroflorestais como alternativa de sustentabilidade em ecossistemas de várzea no Amazonas / The Agroforestry systems as an alternative of sustainable land use in várzea (floodplain) ecosystems in Amazon State

Os sistemas agroflorestais (SAFs) representam uma alternativa agroecológica de produção, sob regime sustentável, para os agricultores familiares na várzea dos Rios Solimões/Amazonas, principalmente no que se refere ao manejo florestal, à diversidade de produtos e à geração de renda. Diante disso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi compreender as diferentes formas de apropriação e de manejo dos recursos naturais através dos SAFs, nos subsistemas roça, sítio e lagos, como componente para a sustentabilidade dos agricultores familiares da localidade Costa da Terra Nova, município do Careiro da Várzea, Amazonas. O método empregado foi o Estudo de Caso com aplicação de questionários, entrevistas e observação participante. A produção familiar na Costa da Terra Nova é representada pelos SAFs, constituído pelos os subsistemas: roça quintal e lago, que proporcionam produtos tanto para subsistência quanto para comercialização local, e estabelecendo a agricultura como fundamental atividade na localidade. O principal produto para comercialização é obtido das hortaliças cultivadas na época da vazante no subsistema roça nas comunidades São Francisco e Nossa Senhora da Conceição; e do extrativismo pesqueiro no subsistema lago, na época da cheia, principalmente na comunidade São José. A criação de animal se dá no subsistema sítio e é apenas para subsistência, sendo as aves e os suínos os principais animais domésticos criados nas três comunidades. Portanto os SAFs tradicionais, constituídos pelos subsistemas, roça, sitio e lago, são responsáveis pela sustentabilidade socioeconômica da localidade pesquisada, servindo, como alternativa agrícola melhor adaptada às condições locais das áreas de várzea na Amazônia.

The Agroforest Systems (SAF's) presents an agro ecological alternative of production under sustainable basis for the families farmers, in the várzea (floodplain) of the Solimões/Amazonas Rivers, especially when it is refereed to the forest management, to the products diversity, and the incomes. This study has objective to understand the different ways of appropriation and management of natural resources through SAFs in the different subsystems as clearing, home garden, and lakes as a sustainability component of families’ farmers from Costa da Terra Nova located in the Careiro da Várzea County (Amazon). The methodology used was the case study with the questionnaires applied, interviews and participant observation. The families’ production in the Costa da Terra Nova is represented for agroforestry systems accordingly with the subsystem: farm, home garden and lakes that provide products for their subsistence as much as much for local commercialization. The local communities established the agriculture as a fundamental activity. The main product is obtained from the vegetables grown during the receding water period in the field subsystem in the communities São Francisco and Nossa Senhora da Conceição; and the extrativismo fishing boat on subsystem lake in water period, predominant in community São José. The animal raising is used only for self-subsistence, being the birds and the pigs the mainly domestic animals raising in the three communities. Thus, the traditional agroforestry systems combined with the forest subsystem, clearing, home garden, and lakes are responsible for social-economics sustainability for the studied area, and could be used as an alternative agriculture better adapted for the local conditions at the Amazonian floodplain areas.

O conhecimento e a prática sobre homeopatia pela família agrícola / The knowledge and the practice on Homeopathy for the agricultural family

A família agrícola como pesquisadora na unidade produtiva tem função fundamental na validação da homeopatia como opção na agropecuária. Possui conhecimentos adquiridos por meio de experimentação na prática do dia-a-dia. São muitos os resultados observados da participação da família agrícola como pesquisadora. Avaliar as informações geradas com as experimentações, conhecer a lógica adotada pela família agrícola, que estuda a base e os princípios da ciência da Homeopatia, identificar como a homeopatia está sendo percebida pela família agrícola e identificar a origem e fonte do conhecimento, foram alguns dos objetivos desse estudo. O estudo foi realizado por meio de entrevistas com agricultores (as) familiares que utilizam e têm conhecimento sobre homeopatia via Curso de Extensão em Homeopatia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV). Abrangeu 17 municípios, sendo 12 das regiões da Zona da Mata e Vale do Rio Doce e 5 municípios do Noroeste do Espírito Santo. Foram entrevistadas 44 pessoas, sendo 77% da faixa etária de 26 a 50 anos. A maioria dos entrevistados eram agricultores (as) de sistema de agricultura familiar e suas unidades produtivas variando entre micro e pequenas propriedades, sendo a fonte de renda oriunda da agricultura e da pecuária. Concluiu-se deste estudo que há tecnologias geradas com as experiências na unidade produtiva por meio do conhecimento adquirido e a homeopatia é de fácil entendimento e aplicação. O curso de homeopatia é efetivo em levar conhecimento sobre homeopatia à família agrícola e os conceitos de homeopatia estão sendo aplicados nas experimentações gerando conhecimento.(AU)

The agricultural family as researcher in the productive unit has fundamental function in the validation of the homeopathy as option in the farming. Farming family acquired knowledge through experimentation in practice day by day. There are many observed results from the participation of the agricultural family as researcher. To evaluate the information generated with the experimentations, to know the logic adopted by the agricultural family, that develop studies on the base and principles of Science of the Homeopathy, to identify as the homeopathy is being noticed by the agricultural family and to identify the origin and source of the knowledge, those were some of the objectives of this study. The study was accomplished through interviews with farmers family that use and have knowledge on homeopathy through Course of Extension in Homeopathy of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) including 17 municipal districts, being 12 from Zona da Mata and Vale do Rio Doce and 5 municipal districts of Northwest Espírito Santo. They were interviewed 44 persons, being 77% of the age group 26 to 50 year old. Most of the interviewees was part of family agriculture and their productive units were small farms, the source of income originating from agriculture and the livestock. It was concluded of this study that there are technologies generated with the experiences in the productive unit through the acquired knowledge and the homeopathy is of easy understanding and application. The homeopathy course is effective in giving knowledge on homeopathy to agricultural family and the homeopathy concepts are being applied jointly with other sources of knowledge.(AU)