The family agroindustry in the missões region of the Rio Grande do Sul: autonomy and diversification of living sources

Abstract

The paper discusses the role of agroindustrialization as a strategy of livelihood diversification in the family farm and its potential to stimulate the construction of autonomy in relation to productive resources internalization and formation of alternative networks for commercialization. The data proceeding from research carried out in nine municipalities of the Missões region, in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul. The results show the potential effects of family agroindustries to build more autonomous rural development patterns, showing the capacity of farmers to create multiple activities and assets that allow them to struggle against the increasing economic and social vulnerability. However, the results reveal that the biggest family enterprises may e developing a negative effect to livelihoods diversification.