(Des)empoderamento das mulheres rurais do estado do Tocantins a partir do acesso à política pública de crédito rural “Pronaf”

Abstract

The object of study of this research consists of analyzing the Pronaf rural credit program as an instrument for empowering rural women in the state of Tocantins. The context in question is the period from 2013 to 2020, when Pronaf Mulher contracts were analyzed in different municipalities in the state. The research problem that guided this study is to understand how Pronaf acts as an agent of empowerment for rural women in Tocantins, with a view to promoting their economic, political and social autonomy. The objective of this research was, therefore, to analyze how Pronaf interferes with the empowerment of rural women in Tocantins, understanding the scope of its objectives and the diversity of regional contexts. The research was developed based on a methodology that included the analysis of documents, such as Pronaf Aptitude Declarations (DAPs), and interviews using the Oral History methodology. The interviews were carried out in the rural communities of Vale Verde and Três Lagoas. Data analysis was based on a theoretical framework that considers women's empowerment theories, including factors such as access to information, training and financial resources. The results showed that Pronaf provided improvements in the economic, social, personal and political dimensions of rural women in Tocantins. However, a survey revealed that the majority of people do not have access to rural credit, which indicates that the program only partially achieved its objectives. There was a large variation in the number of Pronaf Mulher contracts between municipalities, which were related to the IDHM and GDP per capita. An analysis of the DAPs revealed that Sítio Novo do Tocantins had the largest number of rural women benefiting, most of them belonging to Group B of Pronaf, with gross annual income between R$20,000 and R$360,000. The interviews revealed the relevance of access to information, training and financial resources for the empowerment of rural women. The lack of relevant data on market trends, agricultural technologies and rights interferes at different levels in the development of economic activities. They demonstrated an interest in acquiring knowledge in financial management, business administration and leadership. Access to financial resources was identified as a crucial factor in the economic empowerment of rural women, but they faced difficulties in obtaining credit. The conclusion is that it is necessary to expand access to information, training and financial resources to promote the empowerment of rural women in Tocantins and deal with differences in access to rural credit, taking into account the particularities of each region. These measures can contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and empowering environment, favoring the economic, political and social autonomy of rural women.