Banca de DEFESA: MARIA FERNANDA SILVA SANTOS

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MARIA FERNANDA SILVA SANTOS
DATE: 02/03/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Google Meet
TITLE:

Knowledge flows in the semiarid: an analysis of technical assistance and rural extension in agroecological cotton production projects in the Seridó Potiguar.

KEY WORDS:

Seridó; Cotton production; Knowledge flows; Technical Assistance and Rural Extension.

PAGES: 150
BIG AREA: Ciências Humanas
AREA: Geografia
SUMMARY:

The resumption of cotton production in the Potiguar Semi-arid region, more specifically in the Seridó area, revives an important activity in the region's historical process. Two recent projects have been promoting agroecological cotton production: the Potiguar Agroecological Cotton Program (PAAP), coordinated by the State Government; and the AgroSertão Program, coordinated by the Riachuelo Institute. Both projects count on the partnership of Embrapa Cotton and incorporate Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (ATER) as a relevant methodology for the execution of their activities. This study aims to analyze the impact of Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (ATER) as knowledge flows with territorial repercussion through a comparative analysis of agroecological cotton production projects in the Seridó Potiguar. To this end, qualitative-quantitative methodological procedures were adopted, including secondary data collection, bibliographic review, fieldwork, and application of questionnaires and interviews with social agents involved in the agroecological cotton production projects. As a result, it is understood that the revitalization of family cotton farming is the result of an articulation of various institutions and agents operating at different scales and different knowledge flows. The comparative analysis revealed greater adherence of farmers to AgroSertão compared to PAAP, showing that the economic issue remains a determining factor in farmers' choices, even when agroecological alternatives present long-term environmental and social benefits. Regarding rural extension practices, the research found that, although extension workers discursively recognize the importance of local knowledge, there persists difficulty in effectively incorporating this knowledge into work practices. Central decisions about management and commercialization remain vertically defined by the programs, and even in PAAP, which adopts agroecological principles, organic certification requirements restrict the decision-making autonomy of technicians and farmers. The research also identified the fragility of public ATER institutions in the state and the appropriation of public knowledge by private initiative: Embrapa's research infrastructure is mobilized by AgroSertão as a business strategy to guarantee raw material supply for the Guararapes Group. It is concluded that the implementation of participatory ATER and the construction of family farming autonomy demand not only changes in extension workers' individual practices, but structural transformations in the financing, organization, and political orientation of public rural extension services.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externa à Instituição - ANA CRISTINA DE ALMEIDA FERNANDES - UFPE
Interno - 3214278 - LEANDRO VIEIRA CAVALCANTE
Externa à Instituição - Lúcia Ferreira Lirbório
Presidente - 1216653 - THIAGO ADRIANO MACHADO