PRONAF AND THE PROCESS OF (DE)TERRITORIALIZATION OF FAMILY AGRICULTURE OF NOVA PALMA AND PINHAL GRANDE (RS)

Abstract

Public policies are capable of influencing territorial dynamics under different dimensions. In this sense, this research sought to evaluate, from the perspective of development agents, how PRONAF has influenced the process of (de)territorialization of family farming in the cities of Nova Palma and Pinhal Grande (RS). The study is characterized as qualitative and applied different data collection techniques, namely: bibliographic research, secondary data and semi-structured interviews with nine development agents, carried out between the months of October and November 2020. It was observed that PRONAF has contributed both to the territorialization of family farming and to its deterritorialization. The program has led to the expansion of the planted area and to the increase of productivity and enabled the improvement of the infrastructure of agricultural establishments and the acquisition of machinery, reducing the labor burden. Moreover, PRONAF has contributed to the increase of family farmers’ income by raising agricultural productivity. Albeit PRONAF has assisted in the territorialization of grain production aimed at commercialization, both diversified and self-consumption production are present. Through expanding access to PRONAF, the participation of women in agricultural activities has also expanded. However, there has been a reduction in cooperation among farmers.