EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN FARMERS MEMBERS TO NETWORK “MÃOS À HORTA”, RIO POMBA/ MG

The research sought to understand gender relations that occur in the women lives farmers that prosumers belong to Network “Mãos a Horta”. This Network it is a alternative form of marketing of Rio Pomba - MG agricultural products, based on solidarity economy principles and strengthening of local family farmers in agroecological transition aimed at producing foods free of pesticides. Gender refers to the socially constructed differences in attributes and opportunities associated with the female or male, and the interactions and social relations between men and women. To analyze whether there is empowerment, we used the prospect of private empowerment (won by the individual) and public empowerment (collectively won). Semi-structured interviews with open and closed questions, interview two models being developed seeking to translate the objectives of the survey were used to collect data. The interview was directed at the women. The interview B was directed to farmers, spouses of these women. Quantitative data were transformed into graphs and tables, and the interviews were recorded with the aid of suitable equipment, and later transcribed. The data obtained were related theory, featuring an explanatory descriptive approach. The analysis of these results led to the conclusion that there are private by empowering these women, but we could not conclude the same about public empowerment.