Cotonicultura e o Projeto AgroSertão: um estudo de sua execução no município de Carnaúba dos Dantas/RN

Abstract

The Riachuelo Institute, in 2021, launched the AgroSertão Project, in order to stimulate the resumption of cotton farming in Seridó Potiguar and supply raw materials to the Guararapes Confecções industry. The AgroSertão project is carried out in partnership with the Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), and the city halls of six municipalities in Seridó. The objective of this study was to analyze the execution of the AgroSertão Project in one of the participating municipalities, Carnaúba dos Dantas/RN, focusing on the socioeconomic results generated for the local farmers involved. The research is exploratory and descriptive in nature, with the use of a qualitative method for the analysis of data obtained through structured interviews with farmers and a representative of the municipal public administration. The results showed that the aforementioned project had a positive impact on the resumption of organic cotton farming in the municipality, in which the techniques and knowledge acquired through training workshops and online and on-site service by specialists contributed to improving not only the production of cotton, as well as other crops, with the use of biofertilizers. In addition, it allowed to increase the family income of small farmers. On the other hand, the monopoly of the purchase by a single company and the lack of transparency of the public resources committed by the municipal administration and its overload for the execution of the project can be pointed out as flaws or aspects to be improved.