Agroecological vegetable seed production: the case of BIONATUR in MST settlement areas in northern Minas Gerais

Abstract

This essay aims to analyze the advances in agroecological seed production of the Bionatur network in the settlement areas of the MST - Landless Rural Workers Movement -, in the northern mesoregion of Minas Gerais. Methodology based on literature review, information gathered in fieldworks and direct experience as an extension worker in MST settlements, in the northern region of Minas Gerais. Results indicate that, even in the face of several characteristic difficulties of the northern region of Minas Gerais, mainly due to lack of rainfall and the difficulty in accessing public policies for access to rural credit, through organization based on the principles of cooperation, peasant farmers are succeeding in producing agroecological seeds in the semiarid settlement areas.