THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE AGROECOLOGY IN THE SETTLEMENT OF TAPERA, IN THE CITY OF RIACHO DOS MACHADOS, STATE OF MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

Abstract

This paper analyzes the social construction of development alternatives, expressed through the agroecological proposal, by discussing, as an empirical reference for analysis, the experience of a rural settlement on agroecology. This settlement is called Tapera and is located in the municipality of Riacho dos Machados, in the northern area of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It receives technical and political advice from an organization of the civil society or, more precisely, a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to rural development, which promotes sustainable rural development based on the agroecological principles. This paper sought to understand the emergence of alternative conceptions and proposals of development, and the mobilization of the organized civil society, in the face of social and environmental problems, above all, those related to the agriculture.