As margaridas do Sertão dos Inhamuns: uma avaliação do Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos (PAA) a partir da vivência das trabalhadoras rurais no município de Tauá-Ceará

Abstract

This dissertation evaluates the Food Acquisition Program (PAA) based on the perception of thirteen rural women farmers from eight locations in the municipality of Tauá, in the state of Ceará. The PAA was created under the Zero Hunger Program, with the objective of promoting food and nutritional security and fostering policies for the development of family farming. This is a case study that evaluated the Program based on the experience of the actresses, identifying possible socioeconomic, environmental and political improvements in the lives of the women farmers. It seeks to find out what happened after participating in the PAA, after selling agricultural products, investigating their perception of agricultural culture and its correlation with sustainable development, as well as identifying movements related to selfesteem and community participation. The time period has a cut in the year from 2009 to 2019, which corresponds to the initial year and the last year of commercialization in the municipality. The research has a descriptive qualitative methodology. The instruments used were documentary and bibliographical research (consultation of institutional documents, literature review, website); face-to-face and virtual semi-structured interviews; and field diary. The evaluation was carried out inspired by two evaluative paths: the paradigm of indepth analysis with regard to literature and documents, with the aim of analyzing the context of the policy, the content and specificities of the theme and institutional relationship, with regard to construction of the interview script and field analysis used Public Policy Assessment Based on Sustainability (ABS). The following analysis categories were chosen: social inequality, food and nutrition insecurity, concept of State, Family Farming, Gender and Public Policies. It is concluded, in response to the question raised and the objectives of the study, that the PAA contributed to improving the lives of farmers, but with some specific points. It was found that the program had a greater impact on improving the lives of women who had another source of family income. While for those who live solely from agriculture, the Program had less impact. With regard to autonomy, the program brought about an expansion of the network of contacts among the beneficiaries through social networks, strengthening affectivity and the exchange of experiences. Regarding the improvement in self-esteem, it was noticed that the feeling was related to collective well-being, especially that of the children, so that, by being able to contribute to educational improvement or the acquisition of goods for them, the farmers reported contentment in their self-perception. Finally, we can mention that the format of the PAA for effective autonomy would require a design specifically directed to the gender issue, with training and sales with periods appropriate to the types of products.