Práticas agrícolas adotadas por pequenos irrigantes no Perímetro Irrigado Várzeas de Sousa (PIVAS): uma abordagem interdisciplinar das condições socioeconômicas, ambientais e agroecológicas.

Abstract

The adoption of sustainable agriculture is particularly important in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil due to high level of environmental degradation stemming mainly from farming practices that are inappropriate to the natural conditions of the region. The Várzeas de Sousa Irrigation Region in the state of Paraíba offers the potential for sustainable rural development by providing small producers access to the main components of farming: land and water. The aim of the present study was to evaluate farming practices adopted by small producers in this irrigated area as well as socioeconomic, environmental and agro-ecological aspects. This study was conducted on productive properties between August 2016 and July 2017. Systematic observations were performed of the farming activities adopted with the aim of diagnosing the practices employed. Socioeconomic, environmental and agro-ecological aspects were investigated through semi-structured interviews and a chart was used to record the data. The results indicate that the producers in the region have adopted diverse farming practices. The use of agrochemicals, traditional practices of the semiarid region and agro-ecological practices were observed. Moreover, the properties surveyed had a low index of social deterioration (22.22%), high index of economic deterioration (72.22%), low index of socioeconomic deterioration (31.75%), very low index of environmental deterioration (9.78%) and low index of agro-ecological deterioration (37.78%). Based on the methods employed in the present study, the properties investigated have good socioeconomic, environmental and agro-ecological conditions, which contribute to the continuity of the agricultural activities these small farmers of irrigated lands develop.