Experience of implementation of monitoring and evaluation of the sustainability of livestock production subsystems

Abstract

The objective was to establish with family farmers a process of monitoring and evaluating of
the sustainability of livestock production subsystems in redesign. This occurred in a rural development
project called Sustentare. The methodological strategy was to study sustainability
indicators with five properties of the agroecosystem through monthly meetings with farmers
and project team. The experience favored interventions to redesign the familiar agroecosystems.
We noticed differences of scores values for the properties of the agroecosystem among
the evaluated subsystems. Understanding autonomy, equity and environmental sustainability
assists farmers and technicians in making decisions to redesign agroecosystems to improve
productivity and stability. We suggest the continuity and implementation of monitoring and
evaluation of livestock production subsystems in family farming to the agro-ecological transition.