The Role of Institutions in Promoting Resilience …
659
Participating in network organizations such as formal and informal cooperative
groups was cited as a fundamental requirement, especially in difficult times. The main
difficulties for the farmers in the individual family booth at CECAFES involves
transportation and logistics, especially in off-season periods when the amount of
surplus is too small to arrange transportation. For many, the CECAFES market is the
only place to sell their produce. The logistic problems usually come in the peak of
fruit harvest. One farmer has a cashew tree plantation—in Brazil, cashew fruit can be
consumed fresh, used to make juice or alcohol, and the cashew nut can be roasted and
processed. However, since the farmer does not have the means or access to a facility to
process the juice or the cashew nut, she harvests only the amount she can sell fresh at
the market and lets the majority fall and rot. All farmers interviewed from the XiqueXique Network are from the semi-arid area of the RN state, and stated that being part
of the Network kept them in the farming industry, as opposed to getting a side job or
abandoning farming altogether. For most of them, it would be impossible to sell their
surplus directly to the consumer because of transportation costs. Also, off-season
amounts of surplus are not viable to sell individually. Participation on the cooperative
also gave them access to micro industrialization, as some members produce frozen
fruit pulp. The administration of the Xique-Xique Network participates in public
biddings to provide products to public bodies in order to expand sales.
The governmental institutions’ involvement varies significantly. Some farmers
are beneficiaries of programs such as the provision of public-school lunches, which
gives farmers direct market access by catering for public schools. While many of the
programs were positive, the continuity of their support seemed uncertain because of
the recent federal cuts to the program.
In general, participation in public contract biddings is not significant and was
observed only within the collectively organized farmers; the individual farmers usually do not qualify to participate in public bids. The collectively organized farmers
demonstrated interest to increase participation in public bids and cited as impediments, over bureaucratic process, lobbying and lack of cash flow which, if increased,
could enable them to still function while waiting for commonly delayed government
payments.
The most significant observed support received from institutions is technical assistance. The central institution currently offering courses and assistance to promote
development is the SEBRAE, an institution credited for implementing water treatment workshops at the farms. The periodic markets managed by municipalities provide a local opportunity for commercialization. One farmer used access to facilitated
credit to buy a car to transport his produce. Many farmers declared they have unsuccessfully sought institutional support, especially for credit access and other government program participation. This is especially true for the respondents that are not
organized collectively. After the loss of support from federal institutions focused
directly on family agriculture, one partnership that still flourished in the past year
is one with public universities and colleges, a partnership perceived as extremely
important for the time.
From the perspective of funding agents and community developers on the experience and involvement with the projects, it is apparent the governmental involvement
659
Participating in network organizations such as formal and informal cooperative
groups was cited as a fundamental requirement, especially in difficult times. The main
difficulties for the farmers in the individual family booth at CECAFES involves
transportation and logistics, especially in off-season periods when the amount of
surplus is too small to arrange transportation. For many, the CECAFES market is the
only place to sell their produce. The logistic problems usually come in the peak of
fruit harvest. One farmer has a cashew tree plantation—in Brazil, cashew fruit can be
consumed fresh, used to make juice or alcohol, and the cashew nut can be roasted and
processed. However, since the farmer does not have the means or access to a facility to
process the juice or the cashew nut, she harvests only the amount she can sell fresh at
the market and lets the majority fall and rot. All farmers interviewed from the XiqueXique Network are from the semi-arid area of the RN state, and stated that being part
of the Network kept them in the farming industry, as opposed to getting a side job or
abandoning farming altogether. For most of them, it would be impossible to sell their
surplus directly to the consumer because of transportation costs. Also, off-season
amounts of surplus are not viable to sell individually. Participation on the cooperative
also gave them access to micro industrialization, as some members produce frozen
fruit pulp. The administration of the Xique-Xique Network participates in public
biddings to provide products to public bodies in order to expand sales.
The governmental institutions’ involvement varies significantly. Some farmers
are beneficiaries of programs such as the provision of public-school lunches, which
gives farmers direct market access by catering for public schools. While many of the
programs were positive, the continuity of their support seemed uncertain because of
the recent federal cuts to the program.
In general, participation in public contract biddings is not significant and was
observed only within the collectively organized farmers; the individual farmers usually do not qualify to participate in public bids. The collectively organized farmers
demonstrated interest to increase participation in public bids and cited as impediments, over bureaucratic process, lobbying and lack of cash flow which, if increased,
could enable them to still function while waiting for commonly delayed government
payments.
The most significant observed support received from institutions is technical assistance. The central institution currently offering courses and assistance to promote
development is the SEBRAE, an institution credited for implementing water treatment workshops at the farms. The periodic markets managed by municipalities provide a local opportunity for commercialization. One farmer used access to facilitated
credit to buy a car to transport his produce. Many farmers declared they have unsuccessfully sought institutional support, especially for credit access and other government program participation. This is especially true for the respondents that are not
organized collectively. After the loss of support from federal institutions focused
directly on family agriculture, one partnership that still flourished in the past year
is one with public universities and colleges, a partnership perceived as extremely
important for the time.
From the perspective of funding agents and community developers on the experience and involvement with the projects, it is apparent the governmental involvement