O Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos - PAA: implicações socioeconômicas junto aos agricultores familiares da comunidade de Matinha - zona rural de São Luís

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the Food Acquisition Program (PAA) and its socioeconomic implications among the family farmers of Matinha in the rural area of São Luís, supported by the discussions concerning the Zero Hunger program. The PAA has two purposes: to promote access to healthy food and strengthen family farming through the encouragement of food production and marketing for the institutional market. The research showed that the implementation of the program in the period of 2003-2014 implied socioeconomic changes with impacts on the income of family farmers besides strengthening local development. From the methodological point of view, a semi-structured interview and participant observations were used to know reality beyond mere appearance. The interviews were carried out with 12 family farmers enrolled in the PAA in addition to governmental institutions, such as the Municipal Secretariat of Food Security - SEMSA, responsible for the operationalization of the program in São Luís in the Simultaneous Purchase and Donation modality.