O impasse do campesinato: a agricultura de sitiantes de bairros rurais em Limeira, São Paulo

The peasantry impasse: the sitiantes agriculture of rural neighborhoods in Limeira, São Paulo

Abstract

In Brazil, since the 1960s, agriculture has undergone significant changes in the technical sphere due to adopt the productive model of modernization and the economic dimension from the consolidation of agro-industries. These transformations had an impact on peasant agriculture. This article discusses the peasant social organization and presents an analysis of the amendments relating to peasant work and agriculture, notably from sitiantes, locals of the rural neighborhoods named Córrego Bonito Delgado and Frades in Limeira, city of the state of São Paulo. Rural neighborhoods comprise peasant territorializations and, to a large extent, are constituted formed by families with close social ties that preserve a shared life. Memory was conceived as a social form elaborated by these subjects and thus we start using oral history as methodology. Therefore, it was noted that technical changes gradually absorbed as mechanization and use of chemicals as inputs and pesticides affected the work on the field, productivity and health. In addition, processes were initiated to subordinate the production of these peasants to the agro-industries of cotton, orange juice and sugarcane respectively. This changes have put in question the peasants’ way of life, driving them to articulate forms of recreation and permanence through public policy.