A atividade apícola no município de Condado-PB: uma alternativa sustentável para a agricultura familiar.

Abstract

Being in a region that suffers from climate issues and long periods of drought, the county of Condado-PB deserves attention concerning environmental and social issues focusing on solving problems of the population and thereby activities that prevent damage to nature and that generate an income for the small farmer without requiring large investments. Therefore, beekeeping is an activity that brings together pillars of sustainability embracing social, economic and environmental aspects. This practice is fundamental for the development of the studied region and may contribute to the transition process from the traditional to the sustainable model in family farming. Based on this, the present research aimed to highlight through the optics of beekeepers in the county of Condado if the activity there meets the principles of sustainability. Regarding the methodological procedures, we used as data collection instruments two questionnaires applied to beekeepers in the county of Condado. The first consisted of fifteen closed questions, aiming to establish a Sustainability Index for beekeepers. The second was a semi-structured questionnaire composed of eighteen questions, aiming to broaden the discussion on the theme worked in order to achieve greater relevance in the research results. Regarding the results, the Sustainability Index obtained for the beekeepers of Condado was 0.71, considered mid-level following the parameters set in the methodology. This result can be improved by correcting deficient aspects such as the need for schools and leisure spaces in the rural area regarding the Quality of Life Index; need for more rural union members with respect to the Social Capital Index; and need for greater participation in actions to combat soil degradation in relation to the Environmental Index. Moreover, it is noteworthy that among beekeepers, 62% are already close to retirement, threatening the continuity of activity in the municipality, requiring initiatives that bring innovation and profit to the rural area in order to promote the settlement of young people. It was identified the low presence of women (only 8%) in the beekeeping activity of the county, demanding greater encouragement from government programs in the development of activities performed by female producers. All beekeepers develop family farming activities. It is also worth noting that 100% of the interviewed beekeepers see as important the incentive to develop less environmentally harmful practices, an extremely positive fact, demonstrating an excellent level of ecological awareness.