Agricultura familiar e processos de certificação de orgânicos: o caso do arroz Terra Livre

Abstract

Currently, the model of agricultural production and exploitation, based on the foundations of the Green Revolution, has been showing a series of environmental, social and economic problems. However, there are different ways of doing agriculture, among which the concept of organic production was consolidated in Brazil, assuming an undeniable social, economic and environmental importance not only in the country, but also in the world. In this context, the objective of this dissertation was to carry out a study about how the production of organic rice is being developed in the Agrarian Reform settlements of Rio Grande do Sul, with emphasis on the issue of certification and its link with the commercialization of this product. In order to realize the objective here proposed, we carry out a bibliographical and documentary review on the subject. The methodology used in this research is qualitative, based on the analysis of the data obtained in the in-depth interviews conducted with representatives of the families of settled farmers producing rice "Terra Livre". Regarding organic production and certification in Brazil, this country has a major role in this topic, with more than 14,000 organic producers duly accredited to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. Most of these producers are certified by the modality called auditing or third party, with producers still being certified in a participatory manner and family farmers registered in Social Control Organizations for the direct sale of organic products. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the organic production of rice especially generated in agrarian reform settlements has been highlighted. In the harvest of 2016/2017, 550 thousand bags were produced by 616 families in 22 settlements and 16 different municipalities. This production is marketed under the trademark Terra Livre® rice and certified as an organic product in the form of an audit. At present, the main challenge pointed out by the settlers is the marketing, especially due to the last two years nut decline of public policies for family farming. Nevertheless, the results of this initiative have demonstrated the importance of a project built on Agroecology as the driving force of a differentiated development process with social empowerment.