Sustentabilidade dos sistemas de produção de pecuária familiar no Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze the sustainability of family farming systems assisted by EMATER in Rio Grande do Sul. Discussions about a "sustainable world" become increasingly present and necessary in a wide range of environments. In order to deepen discussions about this complex theme and seeking knowledge about its operationalization, this work emphasize production systems aimed at family farming, so-called family farmers, an activity that is properly regulated and occupies vast areas of southern Brazil. In the evaluation process, sustainability indicators play a key role in generating data. And in order to show the direction and what changes are needed at the moment and leading to a path with a proposal to contribute to the sustainable development of agroecosystems, this sustainability assessment study followed the procedures proposed by MESMIS, "Evaluation Framework for Natural Resource Management Systems incorporating Sustainability Indicators ". This provides a methodological framework for assessing the sustainability of different natural resource management systems at different scales. In order to make a judgment about sustainability in the management system, the information obtained through the different indicators is integrated using multicriteria analysis techniques, to finally propose solutions and/or improvements in its socioenvironmental profile. Structured operationally in successive cycles, the MESMIS gives rise to a dynamic and spiral process. However, in partnership with the EMATER / RS technicians, this methodology was adopted and, in a pilot meeting with all the professionals involved, the necessary indicators were analyzed and created to verify the sustainability of the production system of the RS family farmer. Subsequently, the questionnaires for seventeen family farmers systems were established and applied in seven regional EMATER / RS zones contemplating samples for the whole state. The results of the pilot meeting demonstrated that the method was effective in the development of sustainability indicators as proposed. Therefore, the verified indicators presented significant results regarding sustainability, and alsomaking the family farmers chosen by their regions as the basis for reflections on how they are being assisted in what confers the rural extension and the techniques taken to the field, as well as actions directed to maintain, improve and / or ensure the sustainability of these production systems.