Vulnerabilidade social e políticas públicas de apoio à agricultura familiar: análise nas regiões brasileiras entre 2012 e 2021

Abstract

Social vulnerability comprises a set of physical, financial, and human factors considered insufficient or inadequate for the quality of life of individuals or groups within a society. When associated with public policies supporting family farming, structural and regional differences become evident, particularly in the allocation of resources and the target population served. Thus, this study aims to analyze the relationship between the Food Acquisition Program (PAA), the National School Feeding Program (PNAE), the National Program for Strengthening Family Farming (PRONAF), and the Fomento Rural Program on the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) across the five Brazilian regions between 2012 and 2021. A quantitative approach is adopted through the application of a panel data statistical model with random effects, in which the social vulnerability rate is used as the dependent variable, and the average financial transfers from the aforementioned programs as explanatory variables. The results confirm the central hypothesis that, for each of the four public policies, at least one of the five Brazilian regions presents average transfers with a statistically significant relationship with the SVI during the analyzed period. Specifically, PRONAF showed a highly significant and negative relationship in the Midwest; PAA indicated positive relationships, with moderate significance in the Northeast and low significance in the Midwest; food products acquired from family farming under PNAE showed a highly significant and negative relationship in the Northeast and Southeast; and Fomento Rural presented negative relationships with high significance in the North and moderate significance in the South. Overall, the findings indicate that the effectiveness of family farming programs depends not only on the volume of resources allocated but also on their integration and alignment with regional realities in terms of credit provision, technical assistance, and public procurement. These factors are crucial for the social inclusion of vulnerable producers and for promoting sustainable rural development in Brazil.