Extensão rural e desenvolvimento local: análise das ações da política nacional de assistência técnica e extensão rural para o turismo rural em Pernambuco

Abstract

This study aimed at analyzing the new National Policy of Technical Assistance and Rural Extension in relation to rural tourism concerning the local development. More specifically, it tried to understand if tourism as a productive activity is being contemplated by the proposals of the Policy and if the practice of the extensionists from the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA) incorporates tourism in the family agriculture. The theoretical background to new ruralities and rural tourism was based on authors such as: Del Grossi and Silva; Veiga; Almeida; Campanhola and Silva; Cavaco; Ruschman; Silva, Vilarinho and Dale; and Novaes. The insight into local development was brought by authors such as Franco; Oliveira, and Tauk Santos. In addition, the perspective of Rural Extention was strengthened by authors such as: Callou; Caporal; Lima and Figueiredo; and Tauk Santos. Employing a methodology based on qualitative research, with the use of bibliographic and documental analysis, direct observation and interviews, this study found that significant transformations have been taking place in the countryside. In this context, rural tourism emerges with a possibility of contributing in the building of local development. The public sector can play an important role in this process through the service of Ater. With the field research that was conducted, we could observe that Pernambuco’s extensionists have not used the guidelines for rural tourism in family agriculture yet created by the Federal Government. Although IPA has been undergoing some changes that have improved the working conditions of the Ater agents, there are still difficulties that hamper the support for tourism, such as: insufficient number of professionals, extensionists graduated mainly in Agricultural Sciences, inefficiency of tourism business training, and a view that reduces the possibilities of tourism in the family agriculture to the commerce of handcrafts. These findings point out that the actions concerning the support, implementation and investment for tourism in family agriculture in Pernambuco are far from ideal.