Restauração de terra e de gente: alimento-água-energia e os quintais agroflorestais nos assentamentos da reforma agrária no Pampa

Abstract

To face the social, ecological and productive vulnerability in the Pampa biome, it is important to unite production and environmental conservation to improve the quality of life of settled families. The general objective of the present study is to analyze, using the Nexus food-waterenergy approach, the reality of the settled families of the agrarian reform in the Pampa biome, covered by the Sustainable Backyards Project, and to evaluate the potential of agroforestry backyards in improving soil quality. This thesis is structured in the form of chapters. In chapter 1, the main strengths and limitations of settlements in the Pampa were evaluated in terms of food, water and energy security. The study covered the 1755 families contemplated by the Sustainable Backyards Project and from the SIGRA database (Integrated Rural Management System of ATES), 27 indicators were selected. In terms of food security, four indicators were present in more than 70% of the families: raising poultry, grain production, raising pigs and cattle for milk production. Family production focuses on animal husbandry, as evidenced by the correlation between poultry and pig farming. In agricultural crops, grain production (78%) and polycultures (37%) stood out. Water security indicators were present in less than 40% and the highest correlation was established between the presence of rivers/streams and springs. In energy security, the highest representation was established between the presence of electrification and single-phase type in more than 98%. The objective of chapter 2 is to evaluate soil quality under different agroforestry backyards in settlements in the municipalities of Júlio de Castilhos (area A) and Piratini (area B). The physical and chemical attributes showed differences between the sampled areas. The areas of agroforestry backyards and crops differed more intensely from the forest in terms of physical attributes related to soil porosity, when considering soil use in general. In similar areas, the physical and chemical variables were sensitive to soil use and management, considering the history of each piece of land. The results generated in this thesis demonstrate that settled families have an intermediate level of food, water and energy security, highlighting the need for research and promotion of public policies to improve the quality of life of families. In addition, the agroforestry backyards promoted improvements in the physical and chemical properties of the soil in the short term, due to the conservationist management practices carried out by the majority of the families, being recommended the accomplishment of studies and monitoring in the long term.