Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Agroecological Family Farming in the Backlands Territory from Araripe in Pernambuco

Abstract

The present reality of the Pandemic caused by the COVID-19, is characterized by new adaptations in the decrease of the social and economic activities, with the social isolations, in cities and countryside communities, causing a decrease in the commercialization of food by the familiar agriculture, damaging the activities of social organization and rural technical advice in the sustainable development of agricultural activities, by the non-governmental institutions and representative entities of the civil society, in the implementation of public policies assisted to the farmers, having a greater consequence in the social vulnerability and rural poverty. The present article aims to study the effects of the pandemic on family farming in the territory of the backlands from Araripe in the state of Pernambuco, describing the strategies adopted in the social organization of countryside communities, in reducing the social impacts of the pandemic on family farming. Through a bibliographical research, based on academic literature, newspapers and institutional reports, on the activities of rural technical assistance with principles of agro-ecology, developed during the period of incidences of the pandemic. As a result, technological strategies were identified in the remote media, for the activities of rural technical assistance, organization of marketing of food products from family farming, at home, in greengrocers and emporiums of solidary marketing, assisted by non-governmental institutions, in the development of motivational initiatives for rural families, in overcoming social and economic difficulties, during this phase of social isolation and safety protocols to the health of countryside area families and the entire world population.

A Systematic Review on Non-Governmental Organization Role and Strategies During COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This study had involved 14 articles from all over the world. The country of the origin includes Brazil (Coriolano & de Oliveira, 2021), Cambodia (Henley et al, 2021), Thailand (Lau et al, 2021), Malaysia (Murdad et al, 2022), Nepal (Larmar et al, 2021), Hong Kong (Lau et al, 2021a), Indonesia (Rela et al, 2022), India (Peteet, Hempton, Peteet, & Martin, 2020) and five articles involved global data since it is a review article (Geekiyanage et al, 2021); (Ningrum & Subroto, 2022); (Santos & Laureano, 2022); (Sajjad & Eweje, 2021) and (Juhász & Hetesi, 2023).…”

“…For example, NGO need to ensure that all of their staff are well equipped with healthcare knowledge. Since the technological approach that was effective during the pandemic, especially in rural areas, allowed for expansion of action, reduced costs, and speeded up the rural extension process (Coriolano & de Oliveira, 2021), it is crucial that NGOs understand how to handle these technologies well, in particular when they themselves provide training to the public. Moreover, NGO leadership will be required to develop enhanced leadership skills in dealing with critical situations that involve uncertainty within the community.…”

“…Additionally, the NGO has been given training to improve the community's technology skills, so they can fully utilize the tools to combat the pandemic (Komin et al, 2021). Interestingly, one of the NGO's in Brazil has used radio as a means to broadcast information to those without internet access (Coriolano & de Oliveira, 2021). This has improved the effectiveness of NGO's reaching and helping the community.…”

“…This led to limited access to resources including finance and food for the community (Komin et al, 2021) which eventually disrupts the community's stability holistically. There have been a number of new adaptations, including a reduction in social and economic activities in both cities and rural communities, along with a reduction in the commercialization of food by traditional agriculture (Coriolano & de Oliveira, 2021).…”