A proteção da vinha nas explorações agrícolas familiares: tomada de decisão e uso de pesticidas

Abstract

Family farming is defined as that one which is managed by the family and uses mostly family labor, according to the FAO. In the north of Portugal, these products are primarily intended for consumption by the family, and secondarily for local sale. Grape production is in many farms the main source of income, and is the one in which the farmer is willing to apply more pesticides to guarantee the quantity and quality required for processing. However, family winegrowers do not always register their practices and are rarely subjected to any controls. Therefore, it is not known how decision-making and compliance with standards are made. To understand the behavior of family winegrowers when making decisions regarding phytosanitary treatments, perception and care with the use of pesticides, a checklist-type questionnaire was applied to a sample of 109 farmers within the concept of family farmers, on farms with vineyard in the NUTIII region in Portugal. Issues related to: i) sociodemographic characteristics, and ii) agricultural practices related to the vineyard protection, were analyzed. The univariable data analysis was associated with the application of a principal component analysis (PCA). The results obtained reveal that the use of pesticides in the vineyard in family farms is a widespread practice and that the decision making and choice of the pesticide is, in most situations, carried out without the necessary care, technical monitoring or registration. Respondents with a higher level of education say they are more careful about the use of pesticides and individual protection. The younger and more educated age groups are more compliant when it comes to regulatory obligations such as the registrations.