The role of rural women in ecological butia farming at the Nova Esmeralda seating, Pinhal da Serra - RS

Abstract

Agroecology as a field of study has gained prominence regarding the strengthening of the role
of peasant women, a process that can boast some achievements in influencing public policy
making. The purpose of this paper is to understand how gender relations occur between the
participants of the project called “Rota Internacional dos Butiás”, which inhabit the “Nova Esmeralda”
settlement (located at the region of “Campos de Cima da Serra” in southern Brazil).
The named project is an initiative of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA,
acronym in Portuguese) and aims to further develop the productive chain of the “Butiá” – a
local native fruit – from an agroecological perspective. Inside the settlement, the project advances
in parallel to the aim of strengthening women through the enhanced value of their traditional
knowledges regarding phylogenetic species. A content analysis was carried out based on
specialized literature, interview and observation during a short period in May 2016. Despite the
importance of the project, observed for the insertion of women in the agribusiness of the butiá,
it was highlighted the simple participation of the Workers in public recognition activities, such
as marketing. It was noticed the need for public institutions to rethink the way of approaching
the training actions focused on gender relations.