Brief history of family farming in the municipality of Nova Prata/RS

Abstract

Family farming plays an important role in contemporary social organization, being relevant due to its cultural, historical, and economic representation, in addition to reducing rural exodus. Small-scale rural producers are no longer seen as adopters of backward agricultural practices, being now recognized as food producers and holders of sustainable agricultural practices that can minimize the socioeconomic impacts caused by commercial agriculture. The main objective of this study was to understand the productive history and organization of family farming units in Nova Prata/RS. For that, and along 2024, exploratory qualitative research was carried out through the application of a semi-structured open questionnaire and dialogues with the family farmers, in addition to documentary research and secondary data collection in the IBGE Automatic Recovery System - SIDRA. In the municipality, more than 80% of the agriculture establishments are family farms with an average size of 25 hectares. In the family farming units visited, the main products commercialized through regional cooperatives are dairy farming, poultry farming, and grain production (mainly soybeans and corn). Other systems such as sausage production, egg production, organic horticulture and fruit crops were also observed, and their commercialization occurs on a local scale through sales during the weekly farmers' market or in own establishments. Furthermore, these establishments are managed by the owners and the main labor force comes from the family itself. In general, everyone receives some technical assistance, participate in associations and cooperatives and already ad access to rural credit. Family farming in the municipality has proven to be diversified and an important cultural heritage that faces the challenge of keeping financially profitable, finding solutions to reduce labor costs as well as to adjust itself due to climate change. Increasing public incentives and raising awareness among society about the importance of family farming are key factors in expanding the range and valorization of these social actors.