O impacto do PRONAF sobre a sustentabilidade da agricultura familiar, geração de emprego e renda no estado do Ceará

Abstract

The stydy analyzes the contribution of the National Program for Strenghtening of Family Farming (PRONAF) for the susteainable deveopment of family farming in the state of Ceará. For this purpose, primary data was obtained throough the application of 15 questionnaires to beneficiaries and equal number to non beneficiaries in the couonties of Baturitá, Iguatu and Quixadá, totalizing a sample of 90 questionnaires. The secondary data was collected froma the publications of Intersyndicate Departament do Statisticx and Social Economic Studies (DIEESE), Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statisties (IBGE), Institute of Research and Economic Strategy (IPECE) and Ministry of Rural Development (MDA). The sustainability index, employment and farm per cultivated hectare were calculated to measure the impact of the program on sustainable development, generation of income and employment on family farms of beneficiaries. On the basis ofdescriptive analysis and the application of t Student test, Chi-Square test, Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the selected groups of family farming. The results showed that the beneficiaries and non beneficiaries had the low level of sustainabilitiy. The PRONAF had a positive impact, but not significant on farm income generation and positive effect on the creation of employment.