The Agroecology and territorial sustainability: urban agriculture in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

This work analyzes agroecological urban agriculture in Campo Grande, the state capital of Mato Grosso do Sul. Research methodology involved collecting and analyzing field data and consulting statistical and bibliographic information. Research results indicate that urban agriculture in Campo Grande contributes to strengthening sustainable territorial relationships, because it prioritizes agroecology and generates employment and income in poor peripheral neighborhoods. Of the total number of urban farms, 71% were found to private family undertakings and 29% community gardens. The majority of farms are organic or agroecological which are engaged in the production of vegetables, fruit and small animals. Food is produced for both self-consumption and for sale in Campo Grande. Marketing goes through a short circuit involving direct sales from producers to consumers in organic street markets, from door-to-door and online via WhatsApp as well as to small local businesses. However, urban agriculture in Campo Grande is unstable due to discontinuity in the actions of public authorities, which has caused the number of producers and production to decrease. Policies meant to stimulate family organic farming in urban agriculture, to be effective, must be appropriate to the socioeconomic conditions of low-income farmers who lack financial and technical resources. Advances and setbacks in urban agriculture indicate the need to discuss its importance and permanence in Campo Grande on a sustainable basis.