O Impacto das tecnologias sociais sobre a geração de emprego e renda, e a sustentabilidade ambiental do pequeno agricultor do semiárido cearense

Abstract

A seca é um fenômeno climático predominante no semiárido brasileiro e os pequenos agricultores enfrentam dificuldades na produção devido à escassez hídrica. Nesse sentido, o Programa Uma Terra e Duas Águas (P1+2), que faz parte do Programa de Formação e Mobilização Social para a Convivência com o Semiárido, surge com o intuito de ampliar a oferta de água para a produção agrícola no semiárido, por meio da captação de água da chuva em cisternas. Para verificar se esse programa está correspondendo ao que foi planejado, este estudo se propõe a avaliar o impacto do P1+2 no semiárido cearense, mais especificamente no município de Iguatu, quanto a seu efeito sob a renda, o emprego e a sustentabilidade na produção dos pequenos agricultores da região, utilizando-se do propensity score matching. Os resultados encontrados indicam que o programa está promovendo melhorias nas rendas agrícola e agropecuária do público beneficiado. No que diz respeito aos empregos e à sustentabilidade da produção, não foi possível obter resultados estatisticamente significantes de average treatment effect on the treated (ATT). Com relação à comparação da média do índice de sustentabilidade na produção entre os beneficiários e não beneficiários, há diferença significativa favorável ao grupo de beneficiários.

Evaluation of the Impacts of the “Uma Terra e Duas Águas” Program (P1+2) on the Quality of Life and Environmental Sustainability of Beneficiaries in the Semiarid Region of Ceará, Brazil

“…These figures show the low level of schooling of respondents, with most of both groups not having completed basic education. Silva et al (2021) found results very close to these, with 76% of their sample composed of people who did not complete elementary education and 13% without any level of education in formal education. The concentration of interviewees, both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, in a low level of schooling may indicate the abandonment of studies for the dedication to work in the field.…”

“…It is also noted that respondents aged 41 and older constitute a large majority in the two samples analyzed, which totals 80.9% of beneficiaries and 68.5% of non-beneficiaries in the middle-aged and elderly stages. Silva et al (2021), when researching the impact of social technologies on income and environmental sustainability of the small farmer in the semi-arid region of Ceará, found similar results and suggested that it was up to the elderly to administer the agricultural activity, and this The average ages of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries were 52.9 and 50.5 years respectively. The t-Test of comparison of averages points out that there is no difference between the average ages of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, at the level of 5% significance, as well as the Mann-Whitney Test, indicating that there is no difference between the samples and corroborating with the result obtained in the t-Test.…”

“…The IQV is composed of three indicators: Health Indicator, Health and Hygiene Conditions Indicator and Housing Indicator. The variables of each indicator that makes up the IQV were selected from the work of Santos (2013) and Silva et al (2021). The Health Indicator is composed of the health variable only.…”

“…The ISA consists of four indicators: Soil Preparation Indicator, Planting Indicator, Pest Control Indicator and Fertilizer Utilization Indicator. The variables of each indicator that makes up the ISA were selected from the works of Alencar et al (2018), Santos (2013) and Silva et al (2021). The Soil Preparation Indicator consists of only two variables: tractor use and fire use in agriculture.…”

“…For Santos (2013), the low number of people in the families is due to the little social and economic development offered to the people of the countryside. The number of people in a rural household is important because it is more likely that there will be diversity of activities and higher income with more people engaged in agricultural activities (Silva et al, 2021). According to the t and Chi Square tests, with significance of 5%, there is no statistical difference between the samples of the two groups.…”