Caminhos da sucessão geracional: experiências de agricultores familiares filiados ao SINTRAF de São Lourenço do Oeste - SC

Abstract

When questioning the future of family farming in Brazil, generational succession within families stands out as one of the challenges to be addressed. The social reproduction of family farming is composed of various factors, and generational succession is a crucial part of this set, being essential for the formation of new generations of family farmers and the continuity of the activity. From the dynamics present in family production units, it is possible to identify the motivations among successors that contribute to the continuation of the farmers' children in the family production unit (UPF) and in the agricultural activities of family farming. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify, based on the dynamics present in family production units, the factors that motivate generational succession. To this end, a qualitative research approach was used, employing the case study method, in which 16 UPFs affiliated with the Rural Family Workers' Union of São Lourenço do Oeste, each having at least one child, were investigated. Data collection involved in-person interviews, following a structured guide using a socioeconomic questionnaire with open and closed questions, addressing both internal and external factors of the family production unit. After applying the questionnaire, the UPFs were divided into two groups: the first group consisted of seven UPFs that exhibited generational succession, and the second group consisted of nine UPFs where generational succession was not identified at the time of the research. For the group that presented generational succession, follow-up interviews were conducted with the successors to delve deeper into the motivations related to their continuation in the UPF and in family farming activities. The quantitative data obtained from the questionnaire were tabulated in spreadsheets for income calculations and table creation, and the speeches recorded through audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed according to content analysis. In the cases of continuation, two key justifications by rural youth were revealed: (1) freedom and autonomy in carrying out activities, especially in comparison to experiences in urban spaces; and (2) the possibility of earning income from the activities developed in the UPF. Both justifications highlight the importance of autonomy and income in the development of succession strategies. In addition to these key justifications for the continuation of successors, an increase in education levels among the existing generations in the UPFs was observed, even resulting in the retention of successors with higher education levels.