Mulheres e agroecologia: saberes e práticas na vivência de agricultoras camponesas da Coopervereda, no sudoeste do Paraná

Abstract

This research sought to analyze the experiences and knowledge of peasant farmer women in agroecology, with the aim of understanding whether and how historically and sociologically constructed gender roles are, or are not, (re)configured. The interviewed farmers were affiliated with the Cooperative of Organic and Agroecological Producers of Southwest Paraná (COOPERVEREDA), in Verê – PR. Therefore, based on the perspective of decolonial feminism, ethnographic research was used to carry out observations and interviews through the researcher's experience in agroecology and, through them, to analyze how the experiences of these women operate. This research made it possible to understand the presence of important intersections between power relations and violence against women and against nature, mainly due to colonialities that reflect invisibility and exclusion perverse mechanisms. Through agroecology, women appropriate and share knowledge and life-building practices, reaffirm their relationship with the land and the act of producing food, with the profession of peasant farmer, with income and autonomy in private and public space, with their own and family health care. It is important to restate that despite these perceived advances, women still face double and triple working hours, have their knowledge undervalued and their place of speech questioned. Thus, agroecology constitutes an important proposal to the current paradigm, but it faces, on a daily basis, the violence that continues to be perpetuated by patriarchy and capitalism.