FAMILY FARMING AND DEVELOPMENT IN PARAÍBA: THE AGROAMIGO AS A SOCIAL ACTOR

Abstract

This article analyzes the Agroamigo Program in the state of Paraíba, reflecting on its trajectory as a social actor inducing changes that impact rural development. We take as sources of evidence the bibliographic collection that discusses and analyzes the program and its credit operations in Paraíba, between the years 2007 and 2022, made available by BNB. We emphasize the importance of problematizing the articulation between Agroamigo and the dynamism of family farming, which converge to the development of fragile rural spaces, such as in the hinterlands of Paraiba. We question how Agroamigo has contributed to reorganize family farming and develop these spaces, and what innovations and changes have been under its influence. We show, in the end, that Agroamigo has a great capillarity, funding and investing in family farming in all municipalities of Paraiba, especially the poorest, where women are the largest borrowers of credit for agricultural activities and climate vulnerabilities are not an obstacle to access this resource.