Agroecological intercropping with cotton and food: an alternative to food production and income generation for rural families in semi-arid northeast os Brazil

Abstract

This paper presents the accumulated results in 3 years of experience in agroecological production, which involves about 800 peasant families in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil. It presents the process of capacity building focused on participating experimentation and its results on food sovereignty, by seeking stability in food production for the families, the expansion of feed for the animals, and income generation through cotton selling in fair trade and organic markets. Agroecological intercropping with cotton and food enabled increased food production for the families, feed for the animals and cotton production in a sustainable way, ensuring increased agrobiodiversity, soil conservation, native vegetation areas and water sources conservation. Additionally, this system encouraged new ways of social cooperation among the families in the production and marketing processes.