Análise socioeconômica do programa nacional de fortalecimento da agricultura familiar (PRONAF) no Ceará: o caso do município de Acaraú

Abstract

This paper aims sumamarizing a socio-economic analysis of the Programa Nacional de Fortalecimento da Agricultura Familiar ( National Program do Strengthen Family-Based Farming) (PRONAF) in the municipality of Acaraú - Ce. For that purpose, we initially developed a theoretical discussions on the term family-based farming in order to understand the reason for the government to have chosen this approach as the main strategic live for Brazil's rural development. In the subsequent theoretical discussion, we identified the concept that orients the program's actions. In order to make the analysis feasible, activities were carried out in loco at the settlements of the Solidary Agrarian Reform Program ihich are responsible for more than 80% of the PRONAF resources throughput in the municipality. Field work was done on a sample of 25% of the population of each, settlement through the application of 28 questionnaires. Another methodological resource used in the research werw interviews with the program's leading actors. We also used the participatory observation technique in a specific work with the members of the Municipal Sustainable Development Council (CMDS). The results show PRONAF's, inefficiency vis-a-vis its proposed objectives aimed at improving conditions to increase productive capability and to generate occupation and income. We have also ascertained that CMDS members limit their participation to a forma outlining and monitoring of the program's actions. In conclusion, so far PRONAF has not eneabled the social inclusion of family farmers benefited by its resources, main ly because its guiding concept abdicates from doing an analysis capable of pinpointing the negative effects caused by the insertion of rural workers in the competitive market of the Brazilian capitalistic agriculture. The study suggests carrying of research capable of theoretically deepening the term family-based agriculture and of opening new horizons for the entire states of Ceará in what concerns PRONAF's action.