Decision-making in family agroecosystems’ management: retrospective analysis of agroecology adoption

Abstract

The elements considered by farmers to decide by adherence to agroecological practices are
not yet well understood. This research seeked to understand the motivations of family farmers
in Western Maranhão to make their productive and technological choices, and which historical
factors were decisive in the differentiation of production systems, causing some were unable to
adhere to agroecological practices and others do not. External variables such as availability of
credit, capacity building and agricultural industries; and family decisions, such as locally benefit
the production, introducing cattle or permanent crops, influence the course of these farms.