The Adoption of Agroecological Practices by Family Farmers in Mato Grosso do Sul

Abstract

In light of the growing need for sustainable practices in agriculture, the research investigated whether family farmers settled by the agrarian reform in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, adopt Agroecological Practices (AP) for food production, contrasting with the guidelines of the National Agrarian Reform Plan (PNRA). The study identified factors influencing the adoption of AP by farmers, utilizing Factor Analysis and Principal Component Analysis techniques in IBM SPSS® version 25. It was found that the majority (64.2%) of farmers do not adopt AP and are unaware of the PNRA guidelines, with conventional agricultural practices prevailing. Influential factors in the adoption of AP include socio-environmental awareness, infrastructure, market demands, agroecological inputs, and financial resources. This pioneering study in the context of Mato Grosso do Sul provides significant contributions to the literature and practice of agroecological production in Brazil. Therefore, it is recommended to strengthen technical support through training programs and subsidies to facilitate the agricultural transition and the adoption of agroecological practices.