Iniciativas de agricultura urbana em município de médio porte: um estudo exploratório em Lavras, MG

Abstract

Despite the potential that urban agriculture has to integrate and coordinate various topics which are of great interest to the cities, it was only from the late twentieth century that it began to be recognized by the public authorities, Academies and other institutions. It is important consider the need to investigate and study urban agriculture initiatives in Brazil. This descriptive-exploratory study was conducted in Lavras, Minas Gerais state, in a snowball sampling, to identify the farming initiatives that are developed in urban areas in the municipality of Lavras, Minas Gerais state, and their impacts over the people who practice them. The research universe was limited to the urban area and the survey sample was limited to twenty family units. It was done by semi-structured interviews and the technique observation was also used. There was identified, between the people that are working in urban agriculture, that the predominant age was over 60 years. The activity has been going on for several years in some households and most people who are engaged in the activity came from the countryside. In addition to the tradition, which led people to develop the urban agriculture activity, the respondents also indicated that it is a way to increase household income, by selling the products. Also, it is a form of leisure and occupation, that can contribute with healthy products consumptions, free of pesticides. In addition, it involves spiritual and philosophical questions. The benefits generated by urban farmers and their families are the quality of the food produced in their units, compared to those which are bought. Other benefit is the convenience of consuming a product produced at home, without having to go out to buy it. Other reasonable reason for developing this activity were the increase in household income, because it is an opportunity to change the income-generating activity. It was noticed that people want to avoid stress or did not like the activities they were developing before. About the challenges faced by urban farmers to develop their activities, the most commons was health problems, structural problems, time available to devote the activities, technical support and technical knowledge, as well as the lack of financial resources. In spite of these challenges, urban agriculture has been contributing with the environment, even if in a punctual manner, and these families are benefited by the life quality improve. Urban agriculture activity proved to be solid, and even with all the challenges, it must continue existing in theses investigated units, because this activity is important for urban farmers and to their families.