Produção de alimentos na cidade: uma estratégia para o desenvolvimento local sustentável a partir de experiências em João Pessoa - PB

Abstract

In the Prospects for World Urbanization report, the United Nations (UN) highlights that 54% of the global population live in urban areas and in the next three decades there will be 6 billion people in the cities. Clearly, this implies in the risk of the current and future condition of urban sustainable development of residents in large urban conglomerates. It is known that natural resources are limited and from the moment they are withdrawn, without proper relocation, they tend to become extinct. Alternatively, people are looking for healthier, sustainably produced foods, particularly the vulnerable households, by promoting a rich and dignified diet and nutrition, while increasing their purchasing power and promoting sustainable agriculture. In this context, this work aimed to study, quantify and characterize the different practices of Urban Gardens as an instrument of sustainable urban development, developed in the city of João Pessoa-PB. The methods used in this work were qualitative and quantitative researches, developed in four stages: preliminary surveys, analysis, synthesis/ results and conclusion. This study revealed an expressive number of gardens (community, school, private and therapeutic) spread in 36 city districts, developed in public or private spaces, most of them being cultivated on a small scale. Identification of these experiences allowed the creation of a collaborative map, by using Google My Maps, with the characterization of each vegetable garden. In the research were evidenced public policies instituted by the local government that foment the urban agriculture. Thus, the use of the Horta Fácil program proved to be efficient in the planning, design and management of a vegetable production, in the face of empirical simulation in an empty area with high potential for horticultural transformation. The estimate of the potential for food production in areas of study indicated that it is not possible to achieve food self-sufficiency of the population. In addition, the community representations reconstituted by the Discourse of the Collective Subject method were heterogeneous and allowed the population's perception regarding the theme.