Caracterização dos assentados de Diamante D'Oeste e sua relação com os mercados

Abstract

The issue of market access for family farmers has gained relevance in Brazilian academia, with an emphasis on studies about production forms associated with family farming. This research investigated the structuring of markets among agrarian reform settlers, analyzing how the particularities of this movement influence their commercialization strategies. For this purpose, a case study was conducted in the Ander Rodolfo Henrique Settlement (Diamante d’Oeste, Paraná State, Brazil), where questionnaires were applied to 80 resident families. The instruments aimed to characterize the families’ profiles, the productive and commercial profile, and the main challenges faced.The results highlighted the absence of access to potable water for most families, chronic difficulties in obtaining rural credit, and fragility in the organization of internal collectives. Regarding markets, the predominance of short circuit markets was observed, especially direct sales and institutional programs, such as the National School Feeding Program (PNAE). These strategies, although essential for immediate income, reveal dependence on public policies and vulnerability to demand volatility. Additionally, it was identified that the discontinuity of specialized Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (ATER) compromises productive organization capacity and the diversification of commercial channels, perpetuating cycles of economic insecurity.It is concluded that the consolidation of sustainable markets for settlers requires overcoming infrastructural gaps (e.g., water access), strengthening adapted credit mechanisms, and implementing continuous ATER, capable of articulating collaborative networks and market innovations. These elements are fundamental to transforming productive potential into economic autonomy, reducing historical asymmetries faced by these farmers.