Sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária na percepção dos agricultores familiares de Guarda-Mor (MG)

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the adoption and perception of family farmers in the municipality of Guarda-Mor, Minas Gerais, regarding the Crop-Livestock Integration System (CLI), focusing on its potential for the renewal and restoration of degraded pastures. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, including a semi-structured questionnaire, open-ended interviews, and participant observation. The socioeconomic profile was characterized based on structured variables, while the remaining dimensions were analyzed using thematic categories generated from content analysis. The triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data strengthened the interpretation of the data. The results reveal that, although the technical profile of family farmers in the region is potentially suitable for CLI, its adoption remains low and is characterized by discontinuity. Among the primary obstacles identified are limited access to compatible machinery, a lack of ongoing technical assistance, and the inadequacy of public policies adapted to local realities. On the other hand, producers recognize tangible benefits associated with the system, such as increased forage production during the dry season, reduced-cost pasture recovery, increased productivity per area, and improved soil conditions. The conclusion is that the successful adoption of CLI depends on multiple factors, including strengthening public policies on crop-livestock integration specific to family farming, ongoing training, and systematic technical monitoring. Actively listening to local experiences, regionalizing technology, and structuring concrete measures to mitigate challenges emerge as essential strategies for consolidating the CLI system among family farmers who farm cattle in the municipality of Guarda-Mor, Minas Gerais.