Sustentabilidade em Quixaba-PB: uma comparação entre produtores e não produtores de pimenta.

Abstract

The cultivation of peppers is considered an adequate alternative to the molds of family agriculture, which makes possible the verticalization of the productive chain and contributes to the rural economic development, fixing the small producers with dignity in their properties, generating employment and income. It is known that agriculture is an activity of strict and direct relation with nature and that sustainability has become the central concern of the post-industrial society, this research aimed to assess and compare the sustainability of the producers and non-producers of pepper of the municipality of Quixaba-PB. The data used were of primary origin, obtained through interviews with 36 family farmers, using structured questionnaires. The data were segmented into producers in general, pepper producers and non-pepper producers for comparative analysis, tabulated and calculated frequencies, as well as indexes of quality of life, social capital and environmental, from which the index was calculated of sustainability. The overall sustainability index was 0.557, while for pepper producers it was 0.582 and for nonpepper producers it was 0.536. The overall life quality index was 0.540, for pepper producers it was 0.549 and for non-pepper producers it was 0.531. The overall environmental index was 0.627, for pepper producers it was 0.614 and for non-pepper producers it was 0.637. The social capital index, which was generally 0.506, was the one that most differed in the comparison between producers and non-pepper producers, with 0.582 and 0.439 respectively, being considered low in the latter. The limitations of the research are related to the simplification of the reality, characteristic of the indicators and indexes, and the data collections are based on statements from the farmers and their families about a dynamic and complex context, but still the indices and indicators allow to verify cause and quantitative and qualitative effects. The improvement of these results depends on investments in leisure infrastructure, access to schools and medical care, as well as incentives and the promotion of training on associativism, sanitary issues and agroecological practices.