Assistência técnica e extensão rural no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul: uma discussão emergente

Abstract

This dissertation contemplates the axes of ATER – Technical Assistance and Rural Extension, PNATER – National Policy of Technical Assistance and Rural Extension, DRS – Sustainable Rural Development and SDG – Sustainable Development Goal 2, which deals with zero hunger and sustainable agriculture, inserted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, all related to rural extension services developed in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). The first article presents a systematic review on the segmentation of Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (ATER) services. Using Scopus as a database and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria for the selection of research, 15 articles were selected. The results point to the perception of what is called “segmentation” with regard to ATER services, with a prevalence of punctual technical assistance (TA) and a lower presence of rural extension in the practical actions carried out by companies and official organizations of ATER. On the second question of Rural Extension (ER), it has, by definition, the greatest impact for the promotion of sustainable rural development. It is concluded, thus, that the strengthening of public ATER can be a fundamental way to promote rural development with sustainable bases. The second article presents a study on the official Technical Assistance and Rural Social Extension of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. It aims to analyze to what extent the works developed by EMATER/RS meet the main principles of the National Policy of Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (PNATER), identifying the advances achieved and the challenges faced to comply with the PNATER principles, through the extensionist perception. Thus, 67 rural extension workers participated in the survey. The results indicate that some principles are more aligned to the actions developed by extension workers, such as the free service of ATER, and the contribution to food security and sovereignty, understanding the relevance of ATER in the productive context and of access to markets. The third article presents a study on the actions of ATERS – Technical Assistance and Rural Social Extension and the convergence towards the SDG – Sustainable Development Goal 2 of the 2030 Agenda. The objective is to understand how SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture - is being contemplated in the ATERS actions developed by EMATER/RS, through the extensionist perception. The results indicate the need for public policies that can articulate actions in the fight against hunger. They also indicate that ATERS is dedicated through its activities to meet the goals of SDG 2, with emphasis on activities of i) food and nutrition security; ii) access to public policies and social assistance rights; iii) promotion of social and productive inclusion; iv) rural organization; v) supply and access to institutional markets. It is possible to conclude that ATERS has capillarity to be a promoter of actions of the environmental, social and economic dimensions, and can contribute to social equity.