A situação do acesso e uso das tecnologias de informação e comunicação por famílias agricultoras em situação de vulnerabilidade social

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the access and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), especially the internet, by farming families in situations of high social vulnerability. The research was conducted in the Anjo da Guarda I settlement, located in the municipality of Mangueirinha, in the Southwest mesoregion of the state of Paraná, which has the highest number of poor families in rural areas. The method used was qualitative-quantitative and action research. The selection of interviewed families was based on the data from the Family Vulnerability Index (IVF-PR), provided by the Social and Family Development Secretariat (SEDEF) of the State of Paraná. From the data collected in the interviews, as well as the researcher's prior knowledge of the location and the interviewed families, as she worked as a rural extension agent in the community, it was observed that, despite the potential of ICTs, especially the internet, to enhance the freedoms of families through improvements in productive processes and income generation, as well as to broaden social inclusion, there are still limitations that hinder the access and use of the internet by the researched families, with the main reason being a lack of skills. WhatsApp is the most widely used application, and most respondents prefer to receive information in audio or video format due to difficulties in reading and writing. Few people use the internet for research or other purposes related to agricultural or livestock production, such as product marketing. Radio and television remain important sources of information for family farming. Regarding Rural Extension, the researched families recognize that ICTs can be used for communication of notices or messages through WhatsApp; however, for technical information, they still prefer face-to-face communication for rural extension. Given these limitations in internet access and use, it is essential to seek inclusive and accessible solutions, including access to mobile devices, the provision of more efficient internet network infrastructure in rural areas, and the promotion of digital training programs. This approach would help expand the number of rural families benefiting from the advantages of digital connectivity.