Agricultores familiares que atuam no âmbito das cadeias curtas de produção e sua interface com as cooperativas de crédito presentes em Marechal Cândido Rondon - PR

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze the relationship between family farmers involved in short production chains and the financial products and services offered by credit cooperatives in the municipality of Marechal Cândido Rondon, in the state of Paraná. This objective stems from the need to understand whether these institutions actually meet the productive and sociocultural demands of family farmers, a gap that is still little explored in the national literature. To achieve this objective, an applied research approach with a qualitative methodology was adopted, based on bibliographic, documentary, and field procedures. The empirical field consisted of 14 family farmers who work directly in short production chains, with data collected through semistructured interviews. The information was analyzed based on the New Economic Sociology and the Theory of Conventions, which allowed for an understanding of the productive strategies adopted, the financial products used, and perceptions about the relationship with the cooperatives. The results indicate that credit cooperatives represent an important alternative to the conventional financial system, as they enable access to resources for both production and non-productive needs. They also highlight the existence of obstacles such as delays in credit approval and the absence of specific lines of credit to meet the socio-cultural demands of family farming. It was also observed that the relationship between members and cooperatives is sustained by bonds of trust, reciprocity, and belonging, which strengthens the cooperative model and contributes to the permanence of farmers in rural areas. This research seeks to contribute to the debate about the importance of credit cooperatives in strengthening family farming, as well as to the formulation of public policies aimed at sustainable rural development.