AGRICULTURA FAMILIAR NO ASSENTAMENTO SÃO BENTO III MIRANTE DO PARANAPANEMA SP: UMA DISCUSSÃO SOBRE A IMPORTÂNCIA DO PLANEJAMENTO AMBIENTAL COMO FERRAMENTA DE GESTÃO

Abstract

This research approached directly the issue of environmental planning as a tool management applied to family agriculture in the settlement of São Bento III, located in Mirante do Paranapanema in São Paulo state and its implications. This topic is relevant to the new agricultural context which sustainable methods of production respect the laws of nature, this work also involves the relationship between agricultural production and environmental consequences, such as the promotion of sustainable local development, increased levels of income, better health quality and human welfare, it means to give a boost to the quality of life. This work was conducted according to qualitative approach. In order to collect our data, we used the systematic observation technique. Our survey consisted of a semi-open questionnaire and it was used with twenty settled producers in order to trace their social, economical and cultural profile. Besides this, we planned to understand the environment and the application of environmental planning in agricultural activity as a management tool. The results showed us that there are faults in the implementation of public policies to support the producer in relation to environmental issues and it was found that the environmental planning is little used by settled producers. The fieldwork demonstrated that there weren t actions to promote the environmental education as well as the environment protection and the management of the waste from agricultural activities, as proved by 16 (80%) producers who do not know what environmental planning is. It means that we didn t identify structured methodologies of environmental planning used by settled producers. We also find out that there is any kind of support related to environmental planning developed by governmental agencies, leaving it to the producer worldview who uses it through their life experience and resulting from their activities and practices from day by day. It was also observed that within their conditions and available resources, settled producers create by themselves small practical solutions that promote the reduction of environmental impacts and maximize natural resources.