Sustentabilidade e vulnerabilidade de produtores familiares em cultivo de plantas hortícolas e medicinais na região de Mossoró - RN.

Abstract

The objective was to identify the vulnerability and sustainability of the activity of rural producers who grow vegetable and medicinal plants in settlements in the region of Mossoró, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, evaluating by means of indicators the socioeconomic and environmental capital of these producers, and with that identifying the factors that make these farmers vulnerable, contributing to research related to the collection of data on family farmers in the Northeast region of Brazil. To achieve the proposed objective, a qualitative approach methodology was used. The research was carried out in the Paulo Freire Settlement, Serra Mossoró, Mulunguzinho Settlement, Jurema Settlement and Sítio de Alagoinha, in the municipality of Mossoró, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, and five Organic Vegetable Production Units were evaluated. Data collection was carried out from August to September 2018, using semi-structured questionnaires, composed of objective and subjective questions. According to the results obtained, it was observed that the Units of family production of vegetables and medicinal plants in Settlements in Mossoró - RN, have indicators that contribute to the positive relationship to less productive vulnerability, considering the use of family labor. and availability of financial capital for investment, areas with productive soils, water availability, non-use of pesticides and productive diversity. The indicators also point to a positive relationship in the sustainability of the activity, highlighting the socioeconomic indicators and actions that preserve the environment in the productive areas, such as the use of vegetation cover of the soil, the presence of permanent preservation areas, the non use of chemical fertilizers and good productivity of crops throughout the year.