Agroecologia e agrotóxicos

as percepções da população soteropolitana

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show the results of a survey which verified the the perception of the population of City of Salvador on the theme agro ecology and pesticides. The survey was applied in different places of the city amounting 1.374 people. It’s round 90% of the interviewees know what agrochemicals are and 93% are aware of the impacts of pesticides on human health. However, in some interviews, we have seen a perception of the use of pesticides as positive: "Agrochemicals that we use to feed the plants"; "Agro-toxic leaves the plant stronger". Aproximately 51 % of the interviewees heard about agroecology. However, 62 % do not know what agroecology is: "Agroecology is water mixtures with ecology"; "Agroecology and agrochemicals cause misunderstanding.”. The results indicate that the interviewed population has more information on pesticides than on agroecology. We attribute this result to the lack of an ethical education for environmental issues. Another relevant fact is the impacts of television as one of the main sources of information of the Brazilian people, who daily listen on it the campaign “Agribusiness is pop, agro is good”. We recommend public policies for intensive training to knowledge on the field of agroecology and its health and environmental benefits.