Tradition, agroecological knowledge and productive backyards in rural communities of the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

Productive backyards are one of the oldest forms of land management and agricultural use and consist of the combination of various plant species, sometimes associated with the rearing of domestic animals. In this study, different uses of domestic backyards were identified in rural communities in the municipality of Mossoró and Baraúnas, located in the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte state (RN). Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire containing open and closed questions, with 88 families who cultivate in backyards of four rural communities, Santa Rita de Cássia, Guarujá and Bela Vista, in Mossoró (RN), and Recreio, in the municipality of Baraúnas (RN). It was found that the backyards of the communities are used for the cultivation of fruit species, medicinal vegetables and also for rearing animals. In addition, the backyard space is intended for leisure of the families. The production of backyards meets the consumption of the families. Specifically, in the community of Bela Vista, there were limitations in backyard cultivation due to water scarcity in the years 2012 to 2017, a period that includes the conduction of this study. The results of the study show that cultivation in backyards is a social technology that guarantees sovereignty over the food and nutritional security of families in the Brazilian semi-arid region, in line with the need for sustainable coexistence.