FAMILY FARMING AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN BRAZIL: A LITERATURE REVIEW FOCUSING ON THE MUNICIPALITY OF SANANDUVA/RS

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between family farming and rural development in Brazil, linking this discussion to official secondary data from the municipality of Sananduva, Rio Grande do Sul. The methodology adopted consisted of a descriptive and analytical literature review, based on scientific articles indexed in the Scopus database, using descriptors related to family farming, land tenure, and rural development, with a search strategy structured using Boolean operators. Additionally, data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) were used to characterize the local context. The results show that family farming plays a significant role in food production, job creation, and the economic dynamics of rural areas, although it remains constrained by structural limitations related to access to land, credit, technology, technical assistance, and public policies. In the municipality analyzed, there was a predominance of family farms and a significant role played by agriculture and livestock in the local economy, particularly in seasonal crops, dairy production, and other activities linked to the rural sector. It is concluded that family farming is a central element for rural development, especially in agriculture-based municipalities, requiring the adoption of more inclusive and integrated public policies capable of strengthening families’ continued presence in rural areas, expanding their productive autonomy, and promoting sustainable development.