De agricultura familiar à campesinato: a resistência camponesa do sítio Retiro dos Parnaibas.

Abstract

The growing expansion of the capitalist mode of production, associated with the numerous forms of the expanded reproduction of capital, has brought about various changes in all aspects of society, from small towns transforming into large metropolises to the most isolated areas losing space to large estates. When we turn our attention to the formation of the Brazilian agrarian system, we are immediately confronted with the "green revolution," which was a key element in shaping the Brazilian countryside as it is today. These changes primarily benefited one side of those who produce in the countryside—the large landowners—while, on the other hand, the peasants not only faced an increasingly oppressive system, but also had their lands violently stolen, either through expulsions or even genocides. In light of these alarming facts, this research seeks to analyze and discuss the transformations undergone by the Brazilian agrarian system, as well as how these changes have affected family farmers. From this perspective, we will conduct our study focusing on a small rural community called Sítio Retiro, located in the rural area of the municipality of Santa Helena, in the state of Paraíba. The research was carried out with the community's residents, aiming to understand the complexities surrounding the transformations that the community has experienced. To this end, we will examine how the Brazilian agrarian system was formed, as well as the impacts that this agrarian formation has had on small rural communities. Additionally, we will explore how small family farmers organize themselves to resist the encroachment of capital and continue living from the land, on the land, and for the land.