Family agriculture and succession: a study in the micro-region of Concórdia-SC

UN ESTUDIO EN LA MICROREGIÓN DE CONCÓRDIA, SC

Abstract

Family farming is a strong segment of society capable of guaranteeing world food security and demand, contributing to the reduction of hunger and poverty. Faced with economic, political and social difficulties, family farmers live with the challenge and uncertainty regarding their permanence in the field. Young people linked to family farming also face several dilemmas, related to land scarcity, income generation, the transformation of agricultural modernization policies, and the lack of hope in their profession. Within this perspective, it is more difficult for young people to perceive the possibilities of personal and professional development in the field, due to the current situation that their family is in, in economic and social terms. In this vein, this study aimed to verify the prospects for family farmers to remain in rural activity in the micro-region of Concórdia, SC. As a result, it appears that the lack of prospects is associated with low income from agricultural activity, price instability of products for sale, high prices of inputs and equipment for production, low technical assistance, poor infrastructure of roads and difficulty in access credit. Older farmers say they want to continue farming for a longer time, however they report that their children are looking for other alternatives outside the rural environment.