Mecanismos para a garantia da qualidade orgânica: identificação e análise de vantagens ou desvantagens de sua utilização na agricultura familiar

Abstract

The mechanisms for organic quality assurance are instruments under Brazilian law to ensure the consumer not only about quality of an agrifood product, but also the processes that generated both in environmental and social sense. Applied to organic agriculture, it contributes to be an alternative to family farmers, enabling sustainable local development and providing access to new markets. The goal was to identify and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of using these mechanisms for organic quality assurance by the family agriculture, through a survey of perceptions of family farmers who already use them and technicians connected to these producers. This study used an interview guide, in the period June-August 2013 with a group of thirteen (13) family farmers organizations and groups linked to organic production, and nine (09) professional technicians belonging to two ecological cooperatives and two state agencies focused on primary production , all of them in the municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul. In the interviews, the questions were divided into three blocks. In the first collected data, we can characterize and contextualize the studied universe, in other words, the producers, the technicians, the properties and the production system used. We observed age, educational level and household composition. In cases visited greatest concentration of small farms up to 111 acres, which are basically used systems and more traditional techniques, with emphasis on the orchards, gardens and agroforestry systems. Mechanization is little used, with an emphasis on family labor. It's effective the support of cooperatives and other groups to develop activities, stressing the important role of technical professionals. In the second part of the script was approached organic agriculture lifestyle, where an appeared value of ethics and culture, concerns is linked by strong idealism ecological. As for the motivation for activity, quality of life and personal satisfaction are indicated by most producers. The interviews ended with questions about the mechanisms, their advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage was the improved image of the producer against the consumer, then the possibility of reaching markets and income security in many cases. Instead, the bureaucracy and the high cost of some certifications appeared as major disadvantages. There is a warning about the possibility of a high degree of dependence on certification as a subject of more attention. Nevertheless, all respondents consider the legislation that established the mechanisms for organic quality, a breakthrough for family farming, as well as relations with the environment and society.