Tobacco production in Rio Grande do Sul: agroecosystems between autonomy and subordination

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to discuss the autonomy and subordination of tobacco family farmers
integrated into the processing industries and the challenges for the redesign of agroecosystems
in the quest for autonomy. The discussion is based on field research data from seven municipalities
of the Vale do Rio Pardo - VRP, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, in the year 2013.
It was verified that the majority of farmers have a negative perception of tobacco production
And their decisions regarding the permanence or replacement of the crop are taken as the fruit
of family reproduction needs or reactions to their perceptions of the activity. In the redesign of
agroecosystems, agroecology assumes a key role in considering the social, cultural, economic
and political inclusion of peasants.