O Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar, um estudo com os agricultores familiares no município de Minduri Sul de Minas Gerais

Abstract

This work aimed at showing the concern of family farmers in the city of Minduri, Minas Gerais, about the purchases made by the National School Feeding Program (Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar - PNAE) for local and state schools. Therefore, we elaborated a theoretical framework on public policies, as well as on the national school feeding program, on family farming, and on PNAE as local developer. The characteristics of family farmers participating in PNAE in Minduri, the analysis of betterments, and the problems in production units were the purposes of this study. The type of research we used was qualitative, which consists of methods of participative observation, bibliographical survey, and a document survey that complements the guided interviews made in the family production units. This research took place between March and December 2016. Thus, a relevant consideration in this study was that PNAE promoted local development by creating new markets for family farming. Furthermore, they promoted improvements to income and access to local market, enhanced school menus, and found challenges related to the farmers’ perceptions towards lack of infrastructure and equipment, and delays in the payment of products supplied to PNAE. This research is expected to provide data to new studies, in order to complement and bring solutions that may strengthen the bond among farmers, schools, and markets, thus promoting local development.