scholarly journals The goals of the National Biodiesel Program: between planning and implementation

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gean Claudio de Souza Santana

Abstract This work evaluated whether the main goals established by the National Program for the Production and Use of Biodiesel (PNPB) were achieved between 2004 and 2018. For this purpose, reports and surveys prepared by public agencies and soybean producers were used. The results reveal that expectations of improvement in living conditions in rural areas stemming from PNPB implementation were frustrated: there were job losses in agricultural occupations, continuity of rural exodus, increase in land concentration, reduction in the contingent of family farmers, non-inclusion of poor family farmers from the North and Northeast regions. Of the original PNPB goals, only the minimum percentage of biodiesel to diesel was achieved satisfactorily, but dependence on imported diesel increased, even with the development of biodiesel production.

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Diétima da Silva Bezerra ◽  
Carlos Alves do Nascimento ◽  
Alexandre Gori Maia

Abstract This paper analyzes the employment and income dynamics of rural families in Brazil's North Region, the main representative of the Brazilian Amazon. We use information from the National Household Sample Survey between 2004 and 2015 to create a typology of families based on the members' occupation in agricultural and non-agricultural activities. We hypothesize that the recent increase in employment and income was strongly associated with non-agricultural activities, reproducing the dynamics observed in other developing countries and Brazil's more developed regions. The results highlight that, differently from the rural exodus observed in the other regions of the country, the number of rural households increased in the North Region, attracted by the expanding non-agricultural occupations. As a result, the importance of earnings from non-agricultural activities and non-labor (pensions, cash transfers, among others) to family income has increased considerably, especially among self-employed family farmers. The final discussion highlights the relevance of non-agricultural activities for public policies to increase income in less developed rural areas.


Nativa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 506-513
Author(s):  
Jean Callai Garcez ◽  
Danni Maisa da Silva ◽  
Aaron Concha Vasquez Hengles ◽  
Divanilde Guerra ◽  
Ramiro Pereira Bisognin ◽  
...  

A busca por melhores condições de vida é unânime entre os seres humanos, porém, muitos não conseguem atender as suas necessidades por diferentes motivos. Definir qualidade de vida é algo complexo, por isso, existem diversas possibilidades de classificação, ligadas, também, ao aspecto financeiro, à saúde e ao conforto. As famílias que vivem nas pequenas propriedades rurais, geralmente, apresentam maior vulnerabilidade socioeconômica e precisam de maior atenção das instituições públicas. Diante disto, objetivou-se, aqui, estudar as condições de vida de agricultores familiares de Três Passos (RS). Após discussão sobre qualidade de vida, apresentam-se os resultados do estudo de caso realizado com 20 famílias da zona rural do município. Este estudo foi realizado por meio da aplicação de um questionário com questões quali-quantitativas relacionadas à rotina familiar, ao trabalho, à qualidade de vida, às dificuldades, aos benefícios e às perspectivas de sucessão familiar. Os resultados sobre a percepção dos produtores a respeito da qualidade de vida apontaram pontos positivos, relacionados ao fato destes “gostarem de morar no meio rural” e negativos, vinculados, também, às dificuldades de acesso, ao êxodo dos jovens e a dificuldades financeiras. Estes aspectos reforçam a necessidade de novas políticas públicas de auxílio e incentivo ao pequeno produtor.Palavras-chave: Agricultura familiar, sucessão rural, políticas públicas. ANALYSIS OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF FAMILY FARMERS: CASE STUDY FROM TRÊS PASSOS, RIO GRANDE DO SUL (RS), BRAZIL ABSTRACT:The search for better living conditions is unanimous among human beings, however, many are unable to meet their needs for different reasons. Therefore, defining quality of life is complex, so there are several possibilities for classifications, such as in relation to financial aspects, health and comfort. Families that live on small farms in rural areas generally have greater socioeconomic vulnerability and need more attention from public institutions. Given this context, the aim of this study was to study the living conditions of family farmers in Três Passos, RS. After a discussion on conditions and quality of life, the results of the survey carried out with 20 families living in the rural area of a municipality in the Três Passos/RS are presented. This survey was carried out through the application of a questionnaire with quali-quantities related to the family's daily life, work, quality of life, difficulties, benefits and perspective of family succession. The results on the perception of the interviewed producers regarding quality of live pointed out positive points, related to the fact that they “like to live in rural areas” and negative ones, linked, among others, to the difficulties of access, the exodus of young people and difficulties financial. These aspects reinforce the need for new public policies to assist and encourage small producers.Keywords: Family farming, rural succession, public policy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 659
Author(s):  
Jane Marchi Madureira ◽  
Sinclair Mallet Guy Guerra

Um dos principais objetivos do Programa Nacional de Produção e Uso do Biodiesel (PNPB) tem sido desenvolver aagricultura familiar, através de incentivos fiscais às usinas produtoras de biodiesel que adquirem matérias-primas desse segmento. Este trabalho faz um breve levantamento das principais discussões em torno dos resultados sociais que o programa vem apresentando e conclui que mesmo o Estado mobilizando diversos agentes para atuarem em favor do eixo social, não há consenso em relação aos ganhos efetivos do programa no tocante a esse aspecto, tampouco desenvolvimento das regiões Norte e Nordeste como resultadoda implantação da política de biodiesel.Palavras-chave: PNPB, biodiesel, eixo social, agricultura familiar.NATIONAL PROGRAM OF BIODIESEL PRODUCTION AND USE: divergences on the social results of the biodiesel policyAbstract: One of the major objectives of the National Program of Biodiesel Production and Use has been the development of the family farm, through tax incentives for the biodiesel producers, which acquire raw material from this segment. This paper makes a survey of the main debates about the social results that have been presented by the program, concluding that even the State using their means in favor of the social side, there is no consensus on the program achievements at this point, nor the development of the North and Northeast regions as a result of the biodiesel policy.Key words: PNPB, biodiesel, social axis, family farming.


2018 ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
Andrew Jackson

One scenario put forward by researchers, political commentators and journalists for the collapse of North Korea has been a People’s Power (or popular) rebellion. This paper analyses why no popular rebellion has occurred in the DPRK under Kim Jong Un. It challenges the assumption that popular rebellion would happen because of widespread anger caused by a greater awareness of superior economic conditions outside the DPRK. Using Jack Goldstone’s theoretical expla-nations for the outbreak of popular rebellion, and comparisons with the 1989 Romanian and 2010–11 Tunisian transitions, this paper argues that marketi-zation has led to a loosening of state ideological control and to an influx of infor-mation about conditions in the outside world. However, unlike the Tunisian transitions—in which a new information context shaped by social media, the Al-Jazeera network and an experience of protest helped create a sense of pan-Arab solidarity amongst Tunisians resisting their government—there has been no similar ideology unifying North Koreans against their regime. There is evidence of discontent in market unrest in the DPRK, although protests between 2011 and the present have mostly been in defense of the right of people to support themselves through private trade. North Koreans believe this right has been guaranteed, or at least tacitly condoned, by the Kim Jong Un government. There has not been any large-scale explosion of popular anger because the state has not attempted to crush market activities outright under Kim Jong Un. There are other reasons why no popular rebellion has occurred in the North. Unlike Tunisia, the DPRK lacks a dissident political elite capable of leading an opposition movement, and unlike Romania, the DPRK authorities have shown some flexibility in their anti-dissent strategies, taking a more tolerant approach to protests against economic issues. Reduced levels of violence during periods of unrest and an effective system of information control may have helped restrict the expansion of unrest beyond rural areas.


1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
R. Fenz ◽  
M. Zessner ◽  
N. Kreuzinger ◽  
H. Kroiss

In Austria approximately 70% of the population is connected to sewerage and to biological waste water treatment plants. Whereas the urban areas are already provided with these facilities to a very high extent, effort is still needed in rural areas to meet the requirements of the Austrian legislation. The way, this task should be solved has provoked much controversy. It is mainly the question, whether centralised or decentralised sewage disposal systems are preferable from the ecological and economical point of view, that became a political issue during the last 5 years. The Institute for Water Quality and Waste Management was asked to elaborate a waste water management concept for the Lainsitz River Basin, a mainly rural area in the north of Austria discharging to the Elbe river. Both ecological and economical aspects should be considered. This paper presents the methodology that was applied and the criteria which were decisive for the selection of the final solution.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 511
Author(s):  
Raquel S. Dias ◽  
Daniela V.T.A. Costa ◽  
Helena E. Correia ◽  
Cristina A. Costa

Over the years, rural areas have faced a number of problems and difficulties, such as an increase in the average age of the population, desertification, loss of employment and the abandonment of rural and agricultural activities, which have led to the emergence of new initiatives aimed at revitalizing these territories from a social, economic and environmental perspective, such as the successful Bio-districts or Eco-regions (e.g., Bio-district of Cilento). Understanding and establishing a proper framework for each territory based on agroecology and participatory methodologies is still a challenge. In this sense, based on the analysis of two European examples—Cilento, Italy and São Pedro do Sul, Portugal—we described each of the building processes and defined a set of drivers that might constitute guiding principles to serve as a basis for the creation of Bio-districts or Eco-regions. The drivers’ matrix identified was discussed in three focus groups carried out in Portugal in 2020. Such drivers included a technical and environmental component (the quality of the environment and landscape, the food system and the implementation of organic farming and agroecological practices), a social and economic component (valorization of the farmers, products and territories and a set of different stakeholders—farmers, consumers, schools, tourism entities and restaurants, local authorities) and a political component (the governance model). Most participants agreed that the recognition of a Bio-district or Eco-region should be informal, bottom-up, with farmers as the main pillar, with a fair and representative participation, namely family farmers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey Haynes-Maslow ◽  
Stephanie B. Jilcott Pitts ◽  
Kathryn A. Boys ◽  
Jared T. McGuirt ◽  
Sheila Fleischhacker ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The North Carolina Healthy Food Small Retailer Program (NC HFSRP) was established through a policy passed by the state legislature to provide funding for small food retailers located in food deserts with the goal of increasing access to and sales of healthy foods and beverages among local residents. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine perceptions of the NC HFSRP among store customers. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 29 customers from five NC HFSRP stores in food deserts across eastern NC. Interview questions were related to shoppers’ food and beverage purchases at NC HFSRP stores, whether they had noticed any in-store efforts to promote healthier foods and beverages, their suggestions for promoting healthier foods and beverages, their familiarity with and support of the NC HFSRP, and how their shopping and consumption habits had changed since implementation of the NC HFSRP. A codebook was developed based on deductive (from the interview guide questions) and inductive (emerged from the data) codes and operational definitions. Verbatim transcripts were double-coded and a thematic analysis was conducted based on code frequency, and depth of participant responses for each code. Results Although very few participants were aware of the NC HFSRP legislation, they recognized changes within the store. Customers noted that the provision of healthier foods and beverages in the store had encouraged them to make healthier purchase and consumption choices. When a description of the NC HFSRP was provided to them, all participants were supportive of the state-funded program. Participants discussed program benefits including improving food access in low-income and/or rural areas and making healthy choices easier for youth and for those most at risk of diet-related chronic diseases. Conclusions Findings can inform future healthy corner store initiatives in terms of framing a rationale for funding or policies by focusing on increased food access among vulnerable populations.


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