Percepção de agricultores familiares sobre os efeitos da pandemia de covid-19 na produção e comercialização de alimentos em Santa Rita de Ouro Preto - MG

This study presents a qualitative research investigation into the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on family farming in Santa Rita de Ouro Preto, focusing on farmers' perceptions and its consequences for food production and commercialization. Family farming plays a crucial role in the region’s socioeconomic sustainability and food supply, serving as a vital source of food for both the district and its surrounding areas. Based on the perspectives of local farmers, the research seeks to explore in detail how the pandemic has affected these processes, considering the changes in food production and trade dynamics. The central objective of the study is to answer the following question: What were the farmers' perceptions of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on food production and commercialization in Santa Rita de Ouro Preto? Additionally, the study aims to identify the main challenges faced by farmers, the adaptation strategies they adopted, and the mechanisms of resilience and overcoming difficulties employed to confront the adversities brought by the health crisis. The methodology consisted of conducting semi-structured interviews with local farmers to analyze the transformations that occurred during the pandemic period. These interviews provided insights into variations in production and commercialization while also offering an overview of the farmers' living and working conditions in this context. Furthermore, it was observed that proficiency in social media played a significant role in maintaining sales during the pandemic. Through this approach, the study seeks to understand the challenges faced by the agricultural community in Santa Rita de Ouro Preto and the creative solutions they developed to mitigate the effects of the crisis.