Unawareness of agroecological and the consequences of the use of conventional production system: A case study

Abstract

Agroecology has a broad concept often associated by the population with terms that diminish its complexity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge about agroecology in an Irrigated Perimeter of the city of Juazeiro-BA. The data were collected through Semi-structured questionnaires about agroecology, the use of pesticides and their perception of the risk regarding the use of these substances. Most of the residents do not have any knowledge regarding agroecology, and think that it is impossible to plant and harvest good products without using pesticides. Despite their fear in using pesticides and the assertion that they would test some method of planting without using these products, the majority of the interviewees believe that is impossible to farm without them. Given this, it is necessary to bring knowledge about agroecology to all the population, as a way tointroduce alternatives to the productive model nowadays employed.