Diagnóstico da percepção social e ambiental dos agricultores na localidade de Tronqueiras - Santa Maria – RS

Abstract

The objective of this study was to make a diagnosis of the social and environmental perception of the farmers who grow irrigated rice in the district of Tronqueiras, in Santa Maria-RS. It was made a literature review on environmental impact, especially over agriculture and about the historical and economical evolution of the irrigated rice crop. In the methodology it was described the geographic characterization of the studied area and a map was drawn with the district localization based on topographic maps, pages SH-22-V-C-IV-2 Camobi and SH-22-V-IV-4 Arroio do Só. These materials were used as support to organize the data collecting. Tronqueiras has about 27 homes and from them 11 head-of-the-family, who represent 41% of the total, were interviewed. The interviews were made in a way to allow the participant observation and the field report. It was observed that the interviewed inhabitants like the local where they live and work; they have access to modern gadgets that make everyday life in the rural area easier and engage into leisure activities which provide an opportunity for the locals to meet. The land use is agriculture orientated, especially to the production of irrigated rice, which occurs in the flooded lands of the Arenal Creek. Concerning the land use techniques employed in the farms, all the farmers say they use chemicals with the supervision of an agronomist. They were unanimous in stating that if they do not use the chemicals to control insects and weeds, they will not be able to have a good productivity. They also stress the importance of preserving the vegetation near the river as essential to prevent eroded soil from going into the river, to help water to infiltrate into the soil and also to preserve the habitat of animals and plants of the local and regional fauna and flora. The water to irrigate the crops is taken from dams specially built for this activity. Some of the people interviewed (27%) use the water from the Arenal Creek, but none of the farmers block the waters of the river. It was concluded that the local inhabitants are aware of environmental issues, and they try as much as possible to lessen the impacts over the environment. The rice crop is the economical and social support to maintain agriculture and help the families to stay in their hometown.