Extrativismo e produção de alimentos como estratégia de reprodução de agricultores familiares do assentamento seringal, Amazônia Meridional

Abstract

The food sovereignty of the family farmer is related to the transformation of the agroecossystem, articulating the generation of work and income and its capacity of self-production of food. Thus, this work investigates the production of food destined for self-consumption and latex extraction carried out by family farmers of the Seringal agrarian reform settlement, in Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade, southern Amazonia. We investigated family farmers linked to the Association of Latex Producers (Aprolatex), through interviews. A semi-structured form was used addressing socioeconomic and production issues. Heveculture is the main agricultural activity in the production unit, accounting for up to 65% of annual agricultural income. The income supplement comes from the creation of small animals, milk production and agriculture. The main crops produced are cassava, cucumber, corn, pineapple, sweet potato and watermelon, which are also used in family food. The motivation for production for self consumption is the reduction of expenses with food purchases and their availability in quantity and quality, guaranteeing the "food security" of these families. The results demonstrate the importance of food production as a strategy for the permanence of families in the field and the need for public policies focused on extractive activity.