Uso de práticas agrícolas sustentáveis: contribuições do Projeto São José III em assentamentos rurais do Ceará

Abstract

In an attempt to meet its interests over time, humanity uses environmental resources more and more intensively, which causes the depletion of natural capital and the commitment of ecosystem services. This trend is strongly observed in the exploitation of natural resources in rural areas. In this sense, it is possible to observe the advance of environmental degradation in several rural locations in the state of Ceará, a fact that threatens production and increases poverty rates. Thus, sustainable agricultural practices emerge as alternatives that guide production while reducing the impacts derived from human actions. In this scenario, public policies can act as a means to minimize environmental damage, by encouraging food production in a more sustainable way. An example of this is the Sustainable Rural Development Program, also known as the São José III Project, which proposes to the benefited farmers the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. The main objective of this study is to analyze how the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices occurs among the families benefited by the São José III Project in the rural settlements Vida Nova/Aragon and Lagoa do Mineiro, both located in the state of Ceará. The data used in the research are of primary origin, and were obtained through the application of questionnaires to the families that were benefited, which provided information for carrying out economic, social and environmental analyses. As methods of analysis, procedures of descriptive and inferential statistics and construction of indices were adopted. Thus, it is noted that the locations have high rates of adherence to ecological practices, acquired hereditary and the PSJ III came to positively corroborate the implementation of these actions. Finally, it should be noted that these results can support the analysis and formulation of new government initiatives aimed at improving the lives of its beneficiaries as well as environmental conservation, basic premises for sustainable development.