An experience of PRONAF "A" in the Alto Oeste Potiguar: the Site Setting Coito

Abstract

This work studied the policy of the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture (PRONAF), specifically Group “A”, established at the Coito Site, located in the municipality of Marcelino Vieira (RN), Alto Oeste Potiguar region. In order to do so, considering the aforementioned PRONAF group, we analysed the socioeconomic profile of the Coito Site settlement versus the policy of acquiring this line of credit, especially its influence on the daily lives of the settled farmers. In order to reach the goals of the work, we rely on the discussions of Azevedo and Pessoa (2011), Azevedo (2012), Fernandes (2004) and Costa (2005). We conducted interviews with representatives of EMATER, the Rural Workers' Union and the head office of Banco do Nordeste, the main credit agent. In the same way, we made visits to the homes of the settlers of the Coito site, semi-open interviews. From this study, it became possible to make some notes regarding the implementation of PRONAF in the rural area of the municipality, especially in the settlement of the Coito Site, which follows the model adopted in all settlements in the region. We consider through the interviews that PRONAF “A” performance in the region has not operated according to the principles indicated by the Program, as there are inefficiencies that hamper its goals and objectives. We understand that improvements need to arise in the settlement, so that they are not only based on production, seeking to invest with more responsibility and coherence in the social issue, acting on problems such as illiteracy and poor professional qualification of farmer.