Saber camponês e mudança técnica: um estudo de caso junto a pequenos produtores do Bairro de Cardoso, Poço Fundo, MG

Abstract

The main goal of this research was to analyse small farm production and technology, trying to characterize farmers technical changes. A study of peasants' technical knowledge was carried on, based on their agricultural practices and the role they play as farmers reprodution strategy. The necessity of understanding the technical changes process in peasant production units - based on the farmer's point of view-led to this research. A case study was carried on with a peasants group in the Cardoso rural community, at Poço Fundo in the state of Minas Gerais. It was a qualitative research based on theoretical references of the agricultural capitalization process, technology and peasant technical Knowledge. Cardoso peasants show several production practices witch are based on their production and envirommental knowledge. The internai structures of peasants economy described and analised to make it possible to understand their economical and social scene where technical changes occur. Peasants technical knowledge are based on several criteria that allow familiar groups productive and social effectiveness. To refuse or to adopt a new technology, peasant use criteia which are based on both their production and consumption necessities, and units resources and production factors availability. The changes farmers undertake in their agricultural practices aim at the reproduction conditions of familiar production units. The study of peasants'agricultural practices and technical knowledge might be a tool for the agricultural research and rural extension, helping to create appropriated methods and technology for familiar production units.