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Brazil

Young people in the countryside focus on organic farming

Dhe state of Paraíba in the north-east of the country is considered the poorhouse of Brazil. The situation is particularly dire for young people from small farming families. Together with our local partner organization ASPTA, we train young Small farmers*in environmentally friendly, economically viable farming, impart business management business knowledge and promote their political participation.

Voices on site

"Together with other young people, I am fighting for organic farming, because our soil is depleted. We use traditional seeds and natural farming methods, in harmony with nature."
Junger Mann Portrait - ASPTA - terre des hommes schweiz

Herick Menezes do Nascimento
20 years

Background

Poverty is particularly high in north-eastern Brazil, where many people live from subsistence farming. One particularly vulnerable group in the state of Paraíba are young people in the rural interior who see no future in small-scale farming. Agricultural policy favors export-oriented large sslandowners, resulting in monocultures and the intensive use of pesticides that harm people and the environment. Smallholder families are displaced and are unable to maintain their farms, which leads to migration to the metropolitancity.

Project goals

The aim is for young people from small farming families to build up a livelihood and actively actively civil society and political life in their region of origin.

Project activities

  • Education: We train young people in agroecological farming and provide them with individual support. They also receive financial start-up support for their income initiatives and strengthen their smallholder identity and networking with other young smallholders. smallholders*and trade unions.
  • Business management know-how: We expand the young people’s business knowledge so that they can sell their agroecological products can sell their agroecological products profitably on markets.
  • Sensitization: We inform young people about topics such as sexuality, politics and rights.
Jugendliche setzen Setzlinge in eine Schubkarre - terre des hommes schweiz
Selling pesticide-free seedlings generates income and protects the environment at the same time. Photo: Tulio Martins

Beneficiaries

Benefiting from our worktin the the past project phase 570 young smallholders*women and 1000 other people at information events.

Our partner organization

ASPTA (Agricultura Familiar e Agroecológica) has been promoting sustainable subsistence farming since 1983, making an important contribution to environmental protection and combating widespread poverty in our project region.

Project location and phase

We work in the regions Borborema and Agreste in the state of Paraíba in the north-east of Brazil. The current project phase covers the years 2025-2027 with an annual budget of CHF 92 000.
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