Prospects of Agriculture in the Municipality of Itaguaí Face Megaprojects in Onsite Implementation

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to highlight how farming is being excluded from the development agenda of the municipality of Itaguai-RJ, Brazil. In this sense, we will describe the manner in which agriculture has been gradually losing social and economic ground to mega-enterprises, such as the expansion of the port of Itaguai, Navy Yard for construction of nuclear submarines, the installation of TKCSA steel mill, among others. The article demonstrates how global power scales impact the location (VAINER, 2001), and how the theoretical concepts of social management and Sustainable Territorial Development - STD can expand the relations in conducting public policies. A methodology based on exploratory research as an end and as a documentary and field means describes the actions of SEMAAP-Department of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries of Itaguaí, which could be extended and constitute proposals of a public policy designed from the discussion and resolution of civil society actors (local farmers, associations and unions), market (companies responsible for the megaprojects, merchant network and local services) and public power in the executive and legislative levels, local, state and federal, with the participation of the Ministry of Agrarian Development -MDA with PRONAF technicians. Such policies could mitigate the social and environmental impacts derived from the structural transformations. As conclusions, the research indicate that a public policy grounded in food security, mitigation of environmental impacts and sustainable territorial development could contribute in structuring networks and expanding ties between local actors, strengthening local agriculture.