Family organic farming and quality of life. A study case in Santa Rosa de Lima, SC, Brazil

Abstract

This research aims to evaluate and draw conclusions concerning the relationships between Family Organic Farming and the resulting quality of life experienced by the farmers. A basic premise is that many of the same objective and subjective factors occur in studies and discussions of both these concepts. Analysis of the rural world from the perspective of agriculture reveals that current methods and patterns off arming determine significant changes in the social and environmental health of the rural population. This research compares the quality of rural life which results from modern forms of Technical Agriculture with that produced by Family Organic Farming where the aim is self-sustainability, the production of healthy food and the preservation of the environment. In addition, research showed that the organic farmer receives a range of social benefits not least being the reinforcement of his/her cultural integrity. These positive results call into question the negative repercussions of modern patterns of "Technical Agricultural" production. This article shows an initial exploratory study and an investigation into the quality of life being experienced by an existing group of organic family farmers belonging to AGRECO in Santa Rosa de Lima, south of Brazil. The study brought up the multiple relations for researches on quality of life in the rural world and also situates the Family Organic Farming as a strategy of promoting quality of life and social values in the rural word