Socio-economic and environmental analysis of farmers in the surrounding Jatobá II dan in Princesa Isabel-PB

: Family farming is the most common activity in the Northeast region. This term began to be diffused from the 90's, replacing other commonly used expressions. In this sense, the objective of this work is to analyze the socioeconomic and environmental aspects of farmers living around the Jatobá II reservoir in Princesa Isabel-PB. The methodology used was based on research in scientific articles published in journals, books and conferences for theoretical and empirical basis. In addition, 10 questionnaires were applied in September 2021, containing objective and subjective questions in order to collect information about farmers living in the vicinity of the dam. The results show that the level of education is low, income is composed of pensions, crop insurance and family allowance. Furthermore, few farmers use irrigation systems due to the high cost of implementation and maintenance. Despite producing in the vicinity of the reservoir, some farmers use pesticides, harming


INTRODUCTION
Family farming plays a fundamental role in the economy and food production in the Northeast region. Food is produced for family consumption, but the surplus is sold in fairs and markets, strengthening the local and regional economy. This activity was regulated by Law 11.326/2006, which determines that to be a family farmer it is necessary that "the property has four fiscal modules, uses predominantly the family's own labor force, and has a minimum percentage of family income coming from its own establishment's activities" (BRASIL, 2006).
In family farming, the main products cultivated are: beans, rice, corn and manioc, among others. Recurrent droughts are a problem for farmers, damaging their activities, which has repercussions on their income. This situation occurs in the various municipalities of the Northeast, whose activity is present.
Thus, in the Northeast, family agriculture subsists in the context of ruptures and ecological, economic, technical, social and political limits of the dominant model (TONNEU et al., 1997;SABOURIN and CARON, 2003, p. 43). This activity often occupies economic geographic spaces despised by large landowners and companies. It encompasses a significant part of the northeastern population (FAO, 1996).
The planting is done in small areas, whose production potential is minimal, but the farmers use these areas for cultivation, maintaining the activity. The importance of family farming lies precisely in the persistence of the producers in maintaining production, even with the difficulties. In this context, the objective of this work is to analyze the socioeconomic and environmental aspects of farmers living around the Jatobá II dam in Princesa Isabel-PB. Thus, studies that highlight these actors characterizing them are essential to understand the dynamics of this mode of production and the producers' way of life.

Family farming
The category family farming began to gain social and political legitimacy in Brazil from the first half of the 1990s, replacing expressions such as small producers or subsistence farmers (AQUINO; ALVES and VIDAL, 2020, p. 97). Despite this replacement, the terms "small farmers or subsistence farmers" are still popularly used when referring to producers who own small properties or produce food for their own consumption.
Family farming currently gathers the majority of the rural population. In Brazil, it comprises about 6.5 million agricultural production units, more than half of which are located in the Northeast Region (FAO, 1996;SABOURIN;CARON, 2003, p. 42). Despite the effects of the drought that hit this region between the years 2012 and 2017, considered one of the largest recorded in its recent history, family farming remains the main form of production and work in the countryside at the end of the second half of the 21st century, covering 47.2% of the national total (AQUINO; ALVES and VIDAL, 2020, p. 99). This drought lasted for five years affecting farmers who lost their crops, cattle, and goats in different states of the Northeast.
The importance of this activity is not only social, but also economic, for its presence in the markets of food products, whose production is temporary as corn, beans, potatoes, among others, and of exploration as cocoa, coffee, orange among others, of permanent production as for the resources and jobs that this activity provides (VEIGA, 1994; SABOURIN; CARON, 2003, p. 42). These products supply local and regional markets, because the surplus is sold in fairs, generating income for families. Family farming in the Northeast is quite accomplished. According to IBGE (2019) cited by Aquino, Alves, and Vidal (2020, p. 99) this region has 2,322,719 rurais establishments, of these 1,838,846 (79.2%) belonged to family farmers employing 4,708,670 million people (73.8%) of the total (Table 1). These data show that besides producing food and supplying local and regional markets and fairs, family farming also generates jobs, even if they are temporary, collaborating with the maintenance of the economy in this region. This practice is noticeable especially in small towns, where this reality is visible.  The main economic activities of the municipality of Princesa Isabel are: commerce, agriculture, industries (poultry farming and clothing factories), and services. Trade is a differential in the local and regional economy, generating numerous formal and informal jobs. As it is a pole city, people from other neighboring towns come to buy goods and sell them in the city. Poultry farming is another highlight, generating countless jobs and exporting its production to other states in Brazil.

Geoenvironmental characteristics of the study area
The Jatobá II dam is the main reservoir that supplies the urban area and surrounding farms (

Methodological aspects
The methodology used was based on research in scientific articles published in journals, books and congresses for the construction of the theoretical and empirical basis. The research is characterized as qualitative-quantitative, because the activities were described and graphs were built with the data collected through the questionnaire.
Thus, the research had a qualitative and quantitative approach. For Zanella (2013, p. 63) "the qualitative approach or qualitative research works with qualitative data, with information expressed in oral and written words, in paintings, in objects, photographs, drawings, films, etc. The collection and analysis are not expressed in numbers.
The quantitative approach is associated with numbers, statistics. Gil (2008, p. 17) points out that "the statistical method is characterized by a reasonable degree of accuracy. This approach is widely used by researchers to quantify data, providing more information.
About both approaches Minayo (1994, p. 22) states that "the set of qualitative and quantitative data are not opposed, on the contrary, they complement each other, because the reality covered by them interacts dynamically, excluding any dichotomy".
In relation to the objectives, the research is classified as exploratory, since we collected information in loco about the area, and photographic records were taken before the pandemic. To gather more data about the surveyed actors, 10 questionnaires containing objective and subjective questions were applied. The survey occurred in September 2021 with farmers who live or use the land for agriculture around the Jatobá II weir. The application occurred with the farmers who were on the property. The maps were prepared with the QGIS 2.18.19 free software, and Excel was used in the construction of the graphs.

Socioeconomic and environmental aspects of the farmers living around the Jatobá II weir
The data collected shows that among the interviewees 50% are female and 50% are male. The age range varied between 13 and 69 years. The level of education of the producers in this area is considered low, with 50% of the producers having an incomplete elementary school education, 30% stating that they have completed elementary school, 10% are illiterate, i.e., cannot read or write, and 10% have completed college education.
The family income is composed of pensions, crop insurance and family allowance. Most of the interviewees 40% have a family composition corresponding to 3 people, 20% is equivalent to 2 people, 10% said it is 4 people, 10% corresponds to 5 people, 10% said it is composed of 9 people, and 10% live in the city, using the land for agriculture and animal husbandry, remaining on site during the day. The time they have lived on the land ranged from 3 months to 24 years ( Table 2). Low education compromises the access to information, which is usually done through the radio, TV, or when they go to the city; moreover, it influences the use of products that impact the environment.
Regarding land tenure, most of the interviewees, 80% are owners, 20% are renters, people who take care of the land (Figure 3).  The size of the land varied between 2 and 8 hectares, according to the information collected. In this area, agriculture is widely practiced, being a culture passed from generation to generation, from father to son. In this context, "the organization of production around the social arrangement itself and that permeates The activities developed by the producers are related to family farming, where the production is used for the family's own consumption, and the surplus can be sold. Around the weir there are many deforested areas being used for farming and planting grass for animal grazing (cattle, goats, horses) ( Figure   4). The growing environmental degradation around the dam and in the hydrographic basin contributes to the silting up of the reservoir, considering that with the rains the particulate material (soil) is carried by the waters to the lower part of the basin, accumulating in the spring, reducing the storage capacity.
The main crops produced are temporary and permanent. The temporary crops are: corn, beans, chives, peppers, cilantro, etc. Permanent crops are: guava, coconut, mango, orange, soursop, etc. According to 20% of the interviewees, beans and corn are the most produced crops ( Figure 5). The products from agriculture are used for the family's consumption during the year. The surplus is sold and the value obtained is used to supplement food, i.e., to buy other foods that are not produced locally.
In addition, to supplement their income, the families raise animals such as chickens, pigs, guinea pigs, among others, which are sold when they need an extra income.
Some farmers use irrigation in the production of permanent crops. However, this is not a common practice in the area due to the high costs of implementation and maintenance of the irrigation system.
Among the interviewees, 70% do not use irrigation on their farms, 20% use drip irrigation, and 10% stated that they use sprinkler irrigation ( Figure 6).  Drip irrigation is the most suitable for use in the semi-arid region because it requires less water consumption. According to Esteves et al. (2012, p. 4), this system "applies water to only part of the area, thus reducing the wetted soil surface exposed to losses by evaporation. With this, the efficiency of application is much greater and water consumption is lower. Irrigation is used in permanent crops such as coconut, acerola, lemon and orange (Figure 7).  Even though it is a small-scale agriculture, covering the family unit, the lack of information still persists in this region. The use of practices harmful to the environment and consequently to the health of the producers is still maintained. Regarding the use of agrochemicals that are better known by the farmers as "poison", 60% said they use such chemicals and 40% said they do not use them (Figure 8). In addition, Silva (2012) in a study conducted in the neighboring municipality of Tavares-PB found that farmers used in agriculture, pesticides such as formicides and DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane). In this context and according to the literature, pesticides are harmful to human health, biodiversity, and the environment. They cause diseases, contaminate water, and kill animals and insects.
However, using pesticides is not a crime, but their use must follow the legislation, as well as the specific rules for handling and use.

CONCLUSIONS
Family farming keeps local and regional markets supplied with food, thus strengthening the economy. These activities are essential to the region. However, low education and lack of information cause farmers to use pesticides that are harmful to the environment; in addition, there are inadequate agricultural practices that are culturally rooted.
Over the years this class has gained notoriety and policies have been implemented so that farmers remain in the field. Examples of policies are PRONAF (Programa Nacional da Agricultura Familiar) and Seguro Safra (Safra Insurance), programs developed to help producers and collaborate with their permanence in the rural area.
Thus, family farming is important for local development and for feeding the population of this region. Even with the droughts, the farmers persist in maintaining this activity. In this sense, the development of actions and policies aimed at improving the living conditions of these people is fundamental for them to continue producing and staying in the field. Furthermore, better conditions to assist farmers by informing them about environmental protection laws are necessary, as well as new information that encourages environmental protection such as payment for environmental services.