Associativismo e políticas públicas no meio rural: um estudo de caso na Associação dos Criadores de Caprinos de Sumé.

Abstract

This work is the result of a field research referenced in theoretical assumptions related to the practical implications of public policies driven to family agriculture and rural associativism, having as main focus the analysis of the Milk Program of Paraíba. Our study subject was to identify the implications of this policy for the Goat Breeders' Association of Sumé - PB and to learn the perceptions of its associates about its positive and negative points. This work is a case study that provided the analysis of this research. The analysis of this work is based on face-to-face data collection through non-participant observation in monthly meetings at ACCS in February and March 2017, as well as in an interview with 10% of the farmers. In this sense, many issues are listed, such as: the meaning of associativism, the degree of knowledge of public policies directed to rural producers, the benefits offered by the Paraíba milk program for associates in the ACCS, the positive and negative aspects of this policy and the contribution of the Paraíba Milk Program to the local economy and the improvement of life in rural communities. The results obtained show that, for the family farmers who provide milk for the Program, the way of organizing through associativism facilitates the coexistence of the group, organization and search for partnership, farmers realize the Milk Program of Paraíba as a public policy which has been helping to improve the life of the family farmer, although recognizing that this policy brings its negative points, such as: a financial ceiling that establishes a biannual fixed amount for each producer, which is considered by them a low value for the survival of the family, but they also recognize the importance of the Program to help the economy of the municipality and improve community life. We believe that this work brings contributions to reflect on the public policies driven to farmers, and for the local public power to see the ACCS as an organization that has been contributing to the development of the municipality, being able to encourage these farmers, through support, and actions driven to them.