Perception of Family Farmers on the Performance of Biodiverse Agroforestry Systems

An Analysis in the South Centre Region of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Biodiversity agroforestry systems (SAFs) are considered as a sustainable land use alternative, which have been disseminated in the last decades as an important alternative to family farming, aiming at food production and income generation. In this context, a study was developed with the objective of evaluating the farmers' perception of the efficiency of these agroecosystems related to the environmental and economic aspects of family farmers. Data were collected from family farmers located in Lagoa Grande settlement, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, through interviews using a semi-structured script, containing open and closed questions. We analyzed aspects such as size of the property, size of the area destined to the SAFs, factors that motivated the implementation of SAFs, income obtained in SAFs, benefits of the systems, among others. The main results point out that, although the number of people residing on the property is small, with the majority of people retired, SAFs came into being after graduation, and among the benefits they provide, in addition to food production and income, improves the climate, minimizes the use of pesticides, and provides environmental recovery. In other words, the systems positively impact the lives of the farming families, generating food diversity and income, as well as welfare in the face of improved environmental quality.