A percepção dos extensionistas rurais do médio norte do Tocantins sobre as políticas públicas de extensão rural e seu papel no desenvolvimento local

Abstract

Rural Extension is a cooperative process, based on educational principles, which aims to bring teachings about agriculture, livestock and domestic economy directly to adults and young people in rural areas, with a view to modifying habits and attitudes of the family, in technical aspects. , economic and social, enabling greater production and improved productivity, raising income and improving their standard of living. Given this context, the objective of the present work is to analyze the perception of rural extension workers in the north of Tocantins on public extension policies and their role in local development. For that, a qualitative approach and descriptive objectives were used as a methodology, carried out with rural extension workers from the Rural Development Institute of the State of Tocantins (RURALTINS), in a sample comprised of seven extension workers from the Araguaína microregion. A questionnaire with open and closed questions was used for data collection, consisting of a set of questions specifically designed for this research. The data collected for this study were analyzed using Discursive Textual Analysis (DTA). The results of the applied questionnaires brought up several front-line elements that allow a practical analysis of the role of rural extension services in relation to public policies, as well as the identification of difficulties presented by the participants themselves. It is concluded that the study made it possible to observe that the extensionists who participated in this research, for the most part, seek in a methodological and transparent way to follow what is contained in the Ater law, respecting the concept of the new rural and seeking to transform the space in a sustainable way together to the farmer in the socio-environmental scenario of the micro-region of Araguaína, in the north of the state of Tocantins. However, it is evident that these extensionists still need educational and technical incentives, so that they can perform their functions in accordance with the new rural extension, provided for by law.