The Role of Institutions in Promoting Resilience …
653
and local and periodic markets, conducting interviews with farmers and other stakeholders from the Rede Xique-xique and CECAFES, bank agents, community developers and academics. Coding and analysis made with the support of software called
MAXQDA were used for the processing of unstructured data. The study investigated
the perspective of small-scale farmers and artisans, as well as the role of institutions
involved. It also analyzed the vulnerability of family farming in that region, due to
the recent dismembering of institutional structures of support that occurred in Brazil
as the result of the change in government direction.
The results offer the unique perspective of the actors, involved in family agriculture and solidarity economy in the state of RN, concerning the effects of the late
change in government within the scope of this research project. The research showed
that reducing the institutional support for family farmers can have devastating consequences to the working and living conditions of farmers. It also exemplified the
resilience within community organization and networks.
2 Alternative Food Systems
Family farming has had considerably less political and economic support than
agribusiness. However, in the last decade, reports attesting the importance of family farming, especially regarding food security and the promotion of sustainable
agriculture, has put the sector in the spotlight. The Brazilian Special Secretariat of
Family Agriculture (SEAF) states the relevance of family farming goes beyond that
of income generation; the very relationship with the land is different from that of
agribusiness landowners where they may not even be farmers at all, while in small
rural municipalities, family farmers’ land means home, heritage and culture. In the
case of Brazil, family farming has great socio-economic importance, supplying the
domestic market and controlling the inflation of staple foods consumed by Brazilians. Therefore, family farming is fundamental for food security. The 2006 Census
of Agriculture (2009) found most of Brazil’s farmers are family farmers. 84.4% of
all Brazilian agricultural establishments belong to small or medium family groups
out of approximately 4.4 million establishments, with half of them in the Northeast
Region (Census 2009).
Social and solidarity Economy is an excellent ally for family farmers, and it means
more than a way to sell their products: It is a fair-trade opportunity, capable of transforming the quality of life of those involved. SSE is an international movement that
respects social and environmental issues, and also encourages responsible production and ethical consumption. The term SSE has been present in the academic and
political sphere for some time now. The definitions of its principles are somewhat
similar around the world, with some limitations in ranges of its coverage. The first
World Social Forum in 2001 marked the rise of the solidarity economy topic as a
study subject, and as an emergent movement, it was organized to oppose the World
Economic Forum dedicated to representing the most significant capital industries,
such as banks and multi-nationals. In 2003, the Brazilian Secretariat of Solidarity
653
and local and periodic markets, conducting interviews with farmers and other stakeholders from the Rede Xique-xique and CECAFES, bank agents, community developers and academics. Coding and analysis made with the support of software called
MAXQDA were used for the processing of unstructured data. The study investigated
the perspective of small-scale farmers and artisans, as well as the role of institutions
involved. It also analyzed the vulnerability of family farming in that region, due to
the recent dismembering of institutional structures of support that occurred in Brazil
as the result of the change in government direction.
The results offer the unique perspective of the actors, involved in family agriculture and solidarity economy in the state of RN, concerning the effects of the late
change in government within the scope of this research project. The research showed
that reducing the institutional support for family farmers can have devastating consequences to the working and living conditions of farmers. It also exemplified the
resilience within community organization and networks.
2 Alternative Food Systems
Family farming has had considerably less political and economic support than
agribusiness. However, in the last decade, reports attesting the importance of family farming, especially regarding food security and the promotion of sustainable
agriculture, has put the sector in the spotlight. The Brazilian Special Secretariat of
Family Agriculture (SEAF) states the relevance of family farming goes beyond that
of income generation; the very relationship with the land is different from that of
agribusiness landowners where they may not even be farmers at all, while in small
rural municipalities, family farmers’ land means home, heritage and culture. In the
case of Brazil, family farming has great socio-economic importance, supplying the
domestic market and controlling the inflation of staple foods consumed by Brazilians. Therefore, family farming is fundamental for food security. The 2006 Census
of Agriculture (2009) found most of Brazil’s farmers are family farmers. 84.4% of
all Brazilian agricultural establishments belong to small or medium family groups
out of approximately 4.4 million establishments, with half of them in the Northeast
Region (Census 2009).
Social and solidarity Economy is an excellent ally for family farmers, and it means
more than a way to sell their products: It is a fair-trade opportunity, capable of transforming the quality of life of those involved. SSE is an international movement that
respects social and environmental issues, and also encourages responsible production and ethical consumption. The term SSE has been present in the academic and
political sphere for some time now. The definitions of its principles are somewhat
similar around the world, with some limitations in ranges of its coverage. The first
World Social Forum in 2001 marked the rise of the solidarity economy topic as a
study subject, and as an emergent movement, it was organized to oppose the World
Economic Forum dedicated to representing the most significant capital industries,
such as banks and multi-nationals. In 2003, the Brazilian Secretariat of Solidarity