Programa de Alimentação Escolar e Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável: práticas de gestão, agricultura familiar e controle social em três municípios da Microrregião de Cascavel - Paraná

Abstract

Public policies are tools that can contribute to access to public goods and services, equip resources, provide value for the environment and encourage the search for social equity. An example of public policy that has the potential to contribute to the materialization of rights and the valorization of sustainable production is the National School Feeding Program (PNAE). Objective: To analyze the implementation process of the School Feeding Program in three Municipalities in the Cascavel/PR Microregion and the possible contributions of this Program to Sustainable Rural Development. Methodology: The thesis is structured into four articles. The research was developed at an exploratory level, with qualitative investigation. Regarding the research context, it is characterized as a multiple case study, formed by three units of analysis, the School Feeding Programs of three municipalities in the west of the State of Paraná, which are part of the geographic microregion of Cascavel. The research subjects were those mainly involved in the management of the School Feeding Program: family farmers, nutritionists; school cooks from municipal education networks; rural extension workers, public managers, directors and presidents/members of the School Food Councils and the Food and Nutritional Security Councils of the municipalities studied. The study relied on several data sources: narrative bibliographic review, documentary analysis of gray literature and national and local legislation on school feeding, consultation data in public tools, in-depth interviews and focus groups. Results: In the research, the three municipalities studied present public management practices that differ, mainly in the articulation of subjects and institutional arrangements. Many of the potentialities and weaknesses are the same in the municipalities studied, however, the strategies for overcoming weaknesses and taking advantage of potentialities differ. It was noticed that one of the municipalities implemented good management practices. Nutritionists appear as key subjects for implementing the Program. The social control councils faced challenges related to a lack of preparation and knowledge about PNAE legislation and regulations. Conclusion: It was noticed that some limitations have been negatively impacting the management of the Program, for which there is a need for commitment from managers, with democratic-participatory public management practices. Furthermore, he noted the need to strengthen sustainable production practices and the elements that encompass the dimensions of sustainable development, rethinking some principles to effectively achieve the objectives and guidelines established by the PNAE. Furthermore, it is important to enhance social control on a technical, legal and managerial basis, in order to understand the effects that the Program can have on promoting Sustainable Rural Development and that, together with managers, technicians, farmers, counselors and civil society, can further improve their effectiveness.