Evaluation of the socio-environmental performance of family property as a result of the incorporation of agroecological practices in the municipality of Belágua, state of Maranhão, Brazil

Abstract

The present work is a case study whose objective is to present the results of the evaluation of the environmental, social and economic impacts of the improvements incorporated in the production process of mandioculture, in rural family property. The impact evaluation was carried out within the scope of a research project whose objective is to insert technologies and agroecological practices in a cassava production system in the municipality of Belágua, state of Maranhão, Brazil. The first stage of the evaluation, or ground zero, sought to identify the socio-productive characteristics of the mandiocultores in the municipality before the insertion of the agroecological practices proposed by the project. DRP techniques were used for this step. The second stage sought to assess the impacts of technological insertion and used the AMBITEC-AGRO System as a tool for data collection and evaluation. The agro-ecological practices inserted in the cassava production system contributed directly to the reduction of environmental degradation techniques, in addition to presenting benefits in items such as safety at work, the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources, emissions to the atmosphere, soil quality.