A construção de uma extensão rural diferenciada para as famílias assentadas: o programa da Assessoria Técnica, Social e Ambiental (ATES) no RS

Abstract

The present paper reports the investigation concerning the implementation of the Program of Technical, Social and Environmental Support (ATES) to agrarian reform in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) from the structures of coordination, implementation and social participation, with the reference to the activities performed from January 2009 to June 2010. It is characterized as descriptive exploratory survey which provides comments, records, analyzes the events studied and correlated with other empirical phenomena of different natures and characteristics. The investigation was performed from secondary sources and the engagement by the researcher with the theme, from the numerous experiences of work while participating in the project. Oriented on the same guidelines of the National Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (PNATER), the implementation of ATES, since 2004, sought to build sustainable rural development in the agrarian reform, based on the precepts of agroecology. The study has been supported by the universality of extension services to settled families and guided the technical work based on participatory methodologies. ATES was formed from a new institutional State, marked by the decentralization of services through outsourcing, in the context of advancing neoliberal precepts about the political and economic reforms in the country. In the case of RS, this scenario became more evident after 2009, when ATES became operated by contract modality, promoting numerous changes in program implementation. Although a little systematic, a good reading of the concepts and the extensionist practice were properly conducted, questioning the character and concerned with the diffusionist technical work which is prevalent during the modernization of agriculture. ATES created a favorable environment for dialogue and permanent construction of a reflexive process of action in the settlements in order to establish the preparation of Development Plans and Recovery of the settlements as a goal. INCRA has greater control over the actions developed by technical teams through the structure of the contract goals and a system of quantitative monitoring and supervision of technical work. The work plan of the technical teams and the implementation of services began to be defined by the structure of pre-defined contracts, altering the dynamics of employment in order to meet contractual requirements. The decentralized nature of ATES in RS was incomplete, being restricted to perform the services and do not allow the redistribution of decision-making. A single structure of goals for the entire state undermined the work of technical teams, because of the regional settlement. The team had difficulty for developing a more systematic articulation, due to the operational and organizational demands of the program. Hence, the present study indicates that the progress of the ATES program in RS in the modality through contract promoted in technical teams provided in an articulation with INCRA a new configuration of work compliant with the reality of the settlements and it requires adjustments to suit the demands of regional based on the definition of contractual guidelines.