Diagnóstico com técnicas de planejamento na associação agroecológica Écoletivo

Abstract

This work aimed to conduct a diagnosis using planning techniques at the Écoletivo Agroecological Association, focusing on recovering the historical aspects of its foundation and characterization, describing the sociodemographic profile of its members, understanding the conceptual, motivational, and evaluative aspects related to the association, analyzing its external and internal environments, and primarily identifying the main problems, their causes, and consequences.Considering planning as a strategy for local development, a social approach was deemed pertinent. The study had an applied, exploratory, and descriptive nature, with action research identified as the most appropriate methodology. The research was conducted at the Écoletivo Agroecological Association, selected because it is an association with which there is contact through extension projects developed at the institution to which the researcher is affiliated.The participants involved were the association's Executive Board and its members. Data collection was carried out through documentary research, guided interviews with board members, and a semi-structured questionnaire administered to members. Additional planning techniques were also used as data collection methods, including social actors' workshops, diagrammatic organization, hierarchy matrices, and logical thread trees.The analysis of the documentary research and interviews employed a qualitative approach, incorporating content analysis for interpretation. The data from the social actors' workshops were analyzed through content analysis, categorization, and information organization. In the collective construction process during the social actors' workshop, the problems mentioned by participants were grouped through content analysis and included: low participation, management difficulties, member attrition, lack of a headquarters, and financial maintenance challenges. These were ranked in this order of importance. The two most critical issues, low participation and management difficulties, were analyzed by members regarding their causes and consequences through a democratic and interactive discussion, including reflections on the panel results and suggestions for action. This study and the collective construction process strengthened the group, encouraging participants to reflect and reason about the existing reality while seeking a future reality desired by all.