Women in the preservation of the Caatinga: the experience of the agroecological stoves in the backlands of the Pajeú in Pernambuco

Abstract

The present work is the result of a research on the impacts of the use of the agroecological stove
on the life of women farmers in the territory of Pajeú. The objective of this study was to identify
the positive effects of using agro-ecological stoves, as a social technology, to improve the
quality of life of women, a fair division of domestic work, an alternative to income generation,
and economy and preservation of the Caatinga. This is a qualitative and descriptive study. We
interviewed 30 women using the agroecological stove. The results from the interviews showed
that the agroecological stove is efficient and fulfills its purpose of contributing to the quality of
life of women and their families, as well as reducing the incidence of deforestation in the caatinga
for the harvesting of firewood. However, in the question of the fair division of domestic labor,
it is still necessary to deepen and problematize gender relations in the reality of rural families.