Платформа знаний о семейных фермерских хозяйствах

The Process of Agroecological Transition – A Case Study from Southern Brazil

This is a participatory case study together with the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Cetap (Centro de Tecnologias Alternativas Populares) in Brazil and the farmers in two of the groups with whom Cetap cooperates. The objective of the study is to describe and evaluate the process of agroecological transition with the aim of improving it. One of the groups is made up of about 40% of the members of the village Vaca Morta. The village is localized in a strongly hilly area difficult to mechanize and the village is known for its internal strong organizational culture. Although participating they have maintained a certain independce from outsiders such as farmers unions and social movements. The second group is made up of farmers spread out over a whole municipality called Ibiraiaras. The landscape here is flatter and the agriculture more mechanized. The organizational culture of the group is weaker but a strong interconnection with farmers unions and social organization stands out in this group. These properties were chosen as criteria for election of the groups for the study since Cetap feel that they are important ingredients in several of the groups they work with. The focus of the study is to understand and hopefully improve a complex reality with all its variation in perceptions. To reach this profound understanding of the situation, as experienced by the participants, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was the chosen methodology. An important conclusion of the study is that agroecology is an approach and a process instead of a steady, defined state. Thereby there cannot be a transition to it. Transition is an intrinsic part of agroecology which could be defined as; Agroecology is a way of understanding and approaching the rural situation. By the help of the underlying premises and basic principles it helps us to develop a strategy of how to coevolve in a sustainable way with our natural and social environment.

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Издатель: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
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Автор: Weronika Swiergiel
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Организация: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
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Год: 2007
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Страна/страны: Brazil
Географический охват: Латинской Америки и Карибского бассейна
Категория: Тематическое исследование
Язык контента: English
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