Fatores determinantes do desenvolvimento rural em Pacajus-CE: uma análise multidimensional

Abstract

This study aims to diagnose the main conditioning factors of rural development in the municipality of Pacajus, in the state of Ceará, Brazil, through a multidimensional analysis encompassing productive, socioeconomic, environmental, and institutional aspects of local agricultural establishments. The research employs a quantitative, descriptive, and exploratory methodology, based on secondary data from official sources, systematized and organized into seven analytical dimensions: technical, productive, sustainable management, socioeconomic, public policies, land use, and institutional capacity. The analysis enabled the construction of a robust diagnosis of the municipality's rural reality and supported the development of a SWOT (short for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) matrix to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to sectoral development. The results reveal that the municipality exhibits low agricultural mechanization, limited adoption of sustainable environmental practices, poor performance in public policies supporting farmers, and increasing rural exodus. Despite this, there is productive potential linked to family farming, perennial crops such as cashew, and the role of cooperatives and associations. However, the aging rural population, excessive pesticide use, lack of technical assistance, and weaknesses in local governance compromise the sustainability of rural development. The study also highlights the role of public policies as an essential factor, though their effectiveness is limited by bureaucratic obstacles and low coverage of federal and municipal programs. Based on the SWOT analysis, strategies were proposed to strengthen local agriculture, emphasizing the promotion of family farming, incentives for sustainable technologies, expanded access to public policies, and the valorization of traditional knowledge. The study also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 1, 2, 8, 13, and 15. It concludes that strengthening Pacajus' rural zone requires integrated planning, public investments, and emancipatory policies that promote the permanence of families in rural areas while ensuring a balance between economic development, social justice, and environmental preservation.