Pluriatividade e sustentabilidade na agricultura familiar no Alto Oeste Potiguar

Abstract

The rural space has transformed over the years and, as a result, the concept of pluriactivity gained prominence, as the activities carried out in the countryside are varied, being agricultural and non-agricultural, oriented towards industry, commerce, services, in addition to agricultural production. The phenomenon known as pluriactivity occurs when there is an association, by a family group residing in rural areas, of agricultural activities with nonagricultural actions. In effect, the objective of this dissertation was to analyze the contributions of pluriactivity to rural development and the permanence (territorialization) of family farmers in the countryside, in the municipalities that make up the territory of Alto Oeste Potiguar, in Rio Grande do Norte, from the perspective of sustainability. In the methodological procedures, bibliographical research was carried out through the analysis of international and national literature on the object of investigation described in the theoretical basis, with documentary research as a complement, which consists of census data, documents and official records, among others. Understanding the importance of the participation of social subjects, a rural demand was carried out, through semi-structured interviews with the pluriactive families of the communities and with extension technicians from the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company (Emater-RN) who work in the region. The results of the work showed that the introduction of agricultural and non-agricultural activities in pluriactive families in the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte contributes to rural development and the permanence of family farmers in the countryside, thus inhibiting the breaking of ties with their territory (deterritorialization) when migrating to urban areas.