Redes de cooperação como estratégia para desenvolvimento da agricultura familiar: Programa SC Rural

Abstract

Abstract : Political and social movements that have occurred in recent decades have given prominence to what is conventionally called family farming. Considering the fact that it is an important conquest seeking access to public policies, in the academic environment there is an understanding that Brazil presents diversity of contexts, in which family farmers and family members are vying for social and economic performance spaces. Public federal and state initiatives have been implemented in order to meet their demands. Also, in the state context, environmental problems exacerbated by the misuse of soil and water anticipated public intervention in rural areas. Thus, through partnerships with the World Bank, rural development programs have been carried out by the State of Santa Catarina over the last two decades. Punctuated by different goals and strategies and characterized by an increasing expansion of its scope, the "Microbacias" achieved significant results and public coverage. Following a global trend of formation of cooperation networks on the part of organizations, SC Rural Program presents as a differential, with regard to its strategies, focusing on business structuring of family farmers and the encouragement to their organization in networks. The research allowed the exploration of the potential and limits of public programs, bringing birth to arguments that contribute to optimize the strategies of action. The study has exploratory and descriptive characteristics, and methodological techniques were used on the way to systematic review, semi-structured interviews and content analysis. This research allowed for indepth exploration of the potential and limits of public programs, bringing forward arguments that contribute to improve their strategies. It can be affirmed that the social and economic cooperation networks formed in the course of the program were established and strengthened based on strategies for the use of knowledge and that these strategies have provided greater opportunities to rural families in the general context. The selective character of the beneficiary public of the SC Rural Program stands out. Support for family agriculture cooperation networks becomes then an important rural development strategy, especially for the social and economic impact generated.