AGRARIAN SYSTEM DYNAMICS AND TRANSFORMATIONS OF FAMILY FARMING IN THE CITY OF SANTO ANTONIO DAS MISSÕES, RS

Abstract

This paper describes a study of the agricultural development of the municipal district of Santo Antônio das Missões (Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil), made by the method Analysis-Diagnosis of Agrarian Systems. The objective was to get subsides for the elaboration of local agricultural development polices, under the social and economic local reality point of view. In the first stage they were identified and characterized four different agricultural rural zones. After, starting from the study of the agrarian history of the municipal district, it was possible to identify and to characterize six different historical periods, which reflect the main processes of constitution of the farmers' social categories and production systems. This historical analysis evidenced thirteen types of units of agricultural production (9 with only familial workers and 4 with familial and contracted workers). A technical and economic analysis of the farm systems had shown a great diversity of situations, from farmers in a fast capitalization process to some farmers threatened with exclusion of the agricultural activity. On the other hand, it was noticed the possibility of a more inclusive local development by the promotion of dairy production systems of the farmers who face difficulties to assuring their social reproduction.