Avaliação da efetividade da educação cooperativa solidária do PECSOL no processo de inserção do jovem no sistema UNICAFES: o caso do estado do Paraná

Abstract

Cooperativism is a strategic tool for economic and social development, especially in family farming areas. In Brazil, it strengthens productive inclusion and social capital by integrating small producers into markets. In the Southern Region and particularly in Paraná, solidarity cooperatives boost income, access to resources, and regional dynamism, with emphasis on the role of UNICAFES-PR in valuing collective work and food sovereignty. Thus, the present study aims to analyze the cooperative education practices offered to young people in the Solidarity Cooperativism Education Program (PECSOL - Programa de Educação do Cooperativismo Solidário in Portuguese) to encourage their permanence in the system of the National Union of Family Farming and Solidarity Economy Cooperatives (UNICAFES - União Nacional das Cooperativas de Agricultura Familiar e Economia Solidária in Portuguese). Accordingly, this study was conducted in fifteen agricultural cooperatives in the state of Paraná, which are part of the UNICAFES system and participated in the pilot edition of PECSOL, lasting one year, from 2022 to 2023. The study focused on the young rural population. Therefore, it is understood that it is necessary to research in greater depth the issue of youth integration into cooperativism, which has been a recurring subject in several studies about the future of family farming. The research is methodologically grounded, in terms of aims, as a descriptive and explanatory study. It has a qualitative-quantitative approach, as it examines and reflects on young people’s perceptions of cooperative education. For data collection, the questionnaire instrument was chosen, as it is a common technique for collecting data in descriptive research, and it was applied to the young participants of PECSOL. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis tools both to present the characteristics of the young cooperators and to discuss the training offered by PECSOL, in addition to issues relevant to the continued presence of these young people in rural areas and the cooperative system. The results reveal that PECSOL plays a strategic role in strengthening rural youth, fostering connections with cooperativism, and contributing to their permanence in rural areas. Most participants showed interest in becoming more actively involved in the cooperatives and rural activities, valuing family farming and sustainability. However, young people reported significant challenges, such as a lack of confidence in the family succession process, limited dialogue spaces, and insufficient opportunities for effective participation in rural management. They also pointed out difficulties in accessing credit, limited specific public policies, and a shortage of opportunities for continuous training. Despite these challenges, the perception of the role of cooperatives is predominantly positive, as they are recognized as instruments of local development and productive inclusion. The research also highlights the need to enhance actions that strengthen youth participation, bridge generational gaps, and promote a more accessible, representative, and innovative environment within cooperativism. In conclusion, the continuity and strengthening of programs such as PECSOL are essential to consolidate youth participation and ensure the sustainability of solidarity cooperativism in rural areas.