Sustentabilidade da agricultura familiar em assentamentos de reforma agrária no Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

During the last years, family farming as a source of sustainable production is being largely studied and encourged by recent discussion about sustainable development as an instrument of generating revenue and job opportunities in rural areas. The main objective of this research was to study the sustainability of family farming in land reform settlements of the county of Mossoró in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The data was obtained by interviewing 40 producers belonging to the following settlements: Hipolito, Cordão de Sombra I, Quixaba e Jurema. The methology used was developed through the economic, social and ambiental indexes. The indicators such as housing, durable goods have contributed the most to life quality index. In case of social index, the indicator approval of investment by the members of associations showed the most importance among all the social indicators considered in this study. The existence of native reserve area in the settlements contributed the most to the formation of ambiental index. For the construction of sustainable index, social and economic indexes had more importance in relation to ambiental index. Although, the sustainability of family farming is satisfactory, yet its improvement is conditioned to the improvement of economic and ambiental indicators of settlers.