Reflexões sobre a alimentação escolar no sertão da Paraíba: Uma análise do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar nos municípios de Água Branca e Princesa Isabel (PB)

Abstract

The National School Feeding Programme – PNAE, as they call in Brazil – began in the 1950s. Its trajectory has been marked by significant changes, one of them was the universalization guaranteed by the Federal Constitution in 1988. Also, a decentralization of federal government occurred to states and municipalities, which have taken over new responsibilities related to school feeding. Importantly, the quality of food has also undergone changes, especially after the PNAE had taken intersectoral characteristics, which provided the inclusion of family farming products in the school food routine. One of the milestones of the program in line with the family farming gave the adoption of Law 11,947/09, and in it guidelines and rules of operation of the programmers established. Thus, at least 30% of the funds that were transferred to states and municipalities by the Ministry of Education would be spent on purchasing food produced by local/regional family farms. This determination directly contemplated family farmers, who now have a guaranteed market for their products. Given the above-mentioned, the objective of this study was to analyze the changes, in the context of the agricultural production, promoted by PNAE in the counties of Água Branca- PB and Princesa Isabel-PB. The research was classified as descriptive exploratory, with a qualitative and quantitative approach. Data collection was divided into two stages: the first one was the data collection for mapping and characterization of the farmers by using as a research tool a questionnaire with open and closed questions; the other one was the interviews with a semi structured script. The audience was composed of representatives linked to the implementation of the program in the Departments of Education, Agriculture, EMATER, CAE, state school, coordinating PNAE 11

th Region Education of Paraíba and the registered farmers. Given what was observed in the data analysis of Água Branca-PB and Princesa Isabel-PB, PNAE, seen from a broad look, it is unable to promote local development in these two cities since there is a tiny amount of farmers enrolled in the program. However, from a focused view directed to those involved with the delivery of products in schools, it is noticeable that the program provided some changes in the quantity, quality and diversification of its products, in addition to promoting investment on the property and the purchase of work equipment.