DIFFUSION OF AN ALTERNATIVE INOCULATION PRACTICE FOR CAUPI BEANS BASED ON NODULATED FINE ROOTS BLEND TO SMALLHOLDER FARMERS FROM THE METROPOLITAN REGION OF THE STATE OF RIO DE JANEIRO
biological nitrogen fixation; family farming; organic agriculture;
The crisis caused by the model of agriculture known as conventional has been generating a series of questions in society regarding the harmful effects on the environment. In this scenario, the demand for alternative technologies is increasing aiming to the reduction of environmental degradation and the increase on life quality in rural and urban areas, as well as, the preservation in a the long term of soil fertility. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a biological process in which some plants fix nitrogen from the air through symbiosis between roots and soil microorganisms. BNF has become a great ally to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. The cowpea proved to be very efficient as far as BNF is considered, however commercial inoculant is not widespread in Brazil and it is hardly available for smallholder farmers. The alternative inoculation proposed in the present study using fine nodulated root blends was efficient on improving cowpea grain yield similar to commercial inoculant using only local resources. The objective of this study was to identify the main challenges for the diffusion and adoption of this practice among smallholder farmers. Two field days were conducted with organic certified farmers from three municipalities localized in the Metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. The participants are affiliated to the Associação dos Agricultores Biológicos do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, ABIO, which acts on the Guarantee Participation System (SPG), a farmer organization, which confers a statement of compliance certifying to the organic agriculture requirements on a dynamic environment focused to facilitate technical assistance on agroecological practices. On each field day, a structured interview was applied aiming to assess the initial knowledge on subjects related to the use of microorganism in agriculture and, at the end of the second day, the knowledge gained during the activity. The most relevant factors for the adoption of an alternative inoculation is the level of experience with agricultural practices, which was independent of schooling degree and age. The low cost is also a factor that favors the adoption of the practice.