Vulnerability of family livestock farming on the Livramento- border of and : Comparative analysis

Paulo D. Waquil1* Marcio Z. Neske1 Claudio M. Ribeiro2,3 Fabio E. Schlick2 Tanice Andreatta4 Cleiton Perleberg4 Marcos F.S. Borba5 Jose P. Trindade5 Rafael Carriquiry6,7 Italo Malaquin7 Alejandro Saravia7,8 Mario Gonzales9 Livio S.D. Claudino10

Keywords Summary

Cattle, family farm, risk factor, Social, ecological, and economic sciences have all shown interest in studying ET FILIÈRES SYSTÈMES D’ÉLEVAGE

Brazil, Uruguay the social group called family livestock farmers. The main characteristic of this ■ group, which is present in the Pampa biome in Southern Brazil and Uruguay, Accepted: 21 December 2014; Published: is beef cattle production based on family work on small lands, expressing an 25 March 2016 autonomous way of life which is, however, highly dependent on strong relations with the physical environment and marked by risk aversion. In this study we made a comparative analysis of vulnerability factors of family livestock farm- ing in Brazil and Uruguay. We also compared these social actors’ perceptions of risks, and the strategies built to mitigate threats. A survey was thus carried out and included 16 family livestock farmers’ interviews, eight in each country, near the cities of Santana do Livramento (Brazil) and Rivera (Uruguay). Although these cities are next to each other on each side of the border and thus present environmental similarities, we chose them because family farming was not sub- jected to the same political and economic conditions which might (or might not) have influenced farmers’ perceptions and reactions. Results showed that live- stock farmers were mainly affected by vulnerabilities arising from external ele- ments such as the climate (e.g. droughts or harsh winters), but also from internal elements (lack of land access and successors). From the family livestock farmers’ standpoint, the highest risks to their production systems and social system repro- duction were more related to climate than to price and market variations.

■ How to cite this article: Waquil P.D., Neske M.Z., Ribeiro C.M., Schlick F.E., Andreatta T., Perleberg C., Borba M.F.S., Trindade J.P., Carriquiry R., Malaquin I., Saravia A., Gonzales M., Claudino L.S.D., 2015. Vulnerability of family livestock farming on the Livramento-Rivera border of Brazil and Uruguay: Com- parative analysis. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop., 68 (2-3): 55-59

■ INTRODUCTION

Social, ecological, and economic sciences have all shown interest in studying the social group called family livestock farmers. This 1. Graduate Program in Rural Development, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande group, which exists in significant numbers in the Pampa biome in do Sul, Av. João Pessoa, 31 , RS, Brasil 90.040-000. Brazil and Uruguay, is characterized by the production of beef cat- 2. EMATER/RS, Bagé, Brazil. tle based predominantly on family work in small areas, expressing 3. URCAMP, Bagé, Brazil. an autonomous way of life marked by risk aversion and dependent 4. UNIPAMPA, Dom Pedrito, Brazil. on strong relations with the physical environment. This relation is 5. EMBRAPA, CPPSul, Bagé, Brazil. 6. UDELAR, Rivera, Uruguay. through the appropriation of nature, with typical elements of the 7. Instituto Plan Agropecuário, Taquarembó, Uruguay. agricultural premodernization period, using primarily energy from 8. AgroParisTech, Paris, France. nature, with a low degree of manipulation of environmental ele- 9. EMATER/RS, Santana do Livramento, Brazil. ments and changes in the landscape. 10. Universidade Federal do Pará, Brazil. In general, family livestock farming derives from the dispute for * Corresponding author Tel.: +55 (51) 33 08 31 09; Email: [email protected] agricultural space with activities that use industrial inputs, industrial models of production, processing and distribution, i.e. crop or live-

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ stock production able to provide larger levels of intensification. As a tropicaux, 2015, 68 (2-3) : 55-59 des pays et de médecine vétérinaire Revue d’élevage 55 Family livestockfarmersontheBrazil-Uruguayborder

56 Revue d’élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux, 2015, 68 (2-3) : 55-59 ■ SYSTÈMES D’ÉLEVAGE ET FILIÈRES also madepossibleconcreteproposals foractionindifferent issue ofsocial vulnerability within the social sciences and has theence fortheconductofworks in recentyearsthatdealwith refer becomeasortofbasic This approachonvulnerabilityhas impacting externalsituations. risk, andtheinternal(endogenous)whichisabilitytoreact to (exogenous) thatarisesfromsituationscauseshock,stress or can be understood through two overlapping sides, the external deal withthem.Fromthis,theauthormentionsthatvulnerability to the exposure to contingencies and stress, and the difficulty to facing thesesituations.ForChambers(2006)*vulnerabilityrefers risks, uncertaintyandtheinabilitytorecover(resilience)when gen, 2009);itusuallyencompassestheconceptsofexposure to literature evenwithnoconceptualconsensus(GuntherandHartt The conceptofvulnerabilitytakesapolysemicmeaninginthe and Hogan,2006). tainty under different spatial and temporal dynamics (Marandola constitutes apromisingelementtounderstandthepresentuncer understand the new socio-spatial arrangements, and vulnerability In thissense,thenotionofuncertaintybecomesakeyelementto and increasingly‘manufactures’ uncertainties(Giddens,1991). ible consequences ofa modern society that is in a state ofcrisis vice ofthecapitalisteconomy(Leff, 2000). These arethemostvis toward theappropriationanduseofnaturalresourcesforser expansion of environmental problems caused by rampant actions of tensionsandconflictsinthecountryside(Kay, 2007),and sion andruralpoverty(SchejtmannBerdegue,2003),increase tion ofsocialinequalities,reflectedintheincreaseexclu rurality showsthatsincethe1990stherehasbeenanintensifica quences. InLatin America, ageneralanalysisontheoverviewof the analysisofeventsdifferent nature,intensityandconse emergedterm vulnerabilityhas asanimportantheuristictoolfor changes thathavebeenperceivedincontemporarysocieties,the In the context of processes of socioeconomic and environmental ■ the threats. actors’ perceptionsontherisksandstrategiesforged tomitigate border regionbetweenBrazilandUruguay, aswellthesesocial aspects that cause vulnerability of familylivestockfarming in the The aimofthispaperwastomakeacomparativeevaluationonthe climate changes. especially byyoungpeopleandwomen,aswellphenomenalike covers thepotentialofmarginalized areas –,driftfromtheland farming, therearrangementsofagrariancapitalism– whichredis besides the lack ofspecific public policies forfamily livestock tural traitsthathindermoreadvancedlevelsofsocialorganization, appropriate innovationstothiscomplexreality, coupledwithcul ued lackofawarenesstheinstitutionsresponsibleforgenerating may beunderthreatfromanumberoffactorsincludingthecontin The strategies ofsocial reproduction offamily livestock farming ble foritsownsocioculturalandeconomicsurvival. but hasbeenprovidinganimportantdegreeofautonomy, responsi tle relationtothe agricultural modernizationandaccesstomarkets, ductive potential. This situationhasbeenkeepingthisgroupwithlit approaches, bothtechnologicalandorganizational, tofulfillitspro that, besideshavinglittleinterestforcapitalism,requiredinnovative result, historically family livestock farming occupied marginal areas IDS Bull * The originalworkisfrom1989, ChambersR., Vulnerability, copingandpolicy, BRIEF REVIEWON VULNERABILITY ., 20 (2). ------als to overcome disturbances are derived from experiences lived in als toovercomedisturbancesarederivedfromexperienceslivedin of thepastliesinfactthatsomestrategiesadoptedbyindividu Part ofthesefindingsaboutthepredictabilityfutureinterms finally, withreducedabilitytorecoverafteracrisis. from theimpactsofsocioeconomicorenvironmentalcrisesand, to disturbancesandhavelimitedmitigationability, suffering more those whofindthemselveswithaconsiderablelevelofexposure the most vulnerable individuals, groups,classes and regions are According toBoleetal.[quotedbyMayorga andMayorga (2011)] in poverty. of vulnerability(riskexposure)isproportionaltotheincrease situation (deprivationoftheirfreedom). Thus, thehigherdegree since inthesecasestheindividualsareworseningtheirwell-being basic capabilitiesofindividualsfromexposuretoarisksituation vulnerability combinesasituationthatinvolvesthenotionof have alesserabilitytorecover(Moser, 1998).ForSen(2001) people orsocialgroupsthatinthemidstofadangeroussituation regard, thesituationofhighervulnerabilitywouldoccurforthose adaptive capacity (resilience) before risk materialization. In this the degreeofriskexposure,susceptibilitytoand vulnerability hasbeenconsideredtheresultofthreemainfactors: In agreement with DeSherbinin et al. (2007),in social sciences cope withtheimpactsthataffect them(Alvesetal.,2008). time resourceavailabilityandstrategiesthatthefamiliesadoptto caused byeventsoreconomicchangesconsideringatthesame into accounttheinsecurityandexposuretorisksdisruptions international institutions.Inthissense,socialvulnerabilitytakes what thefamily livestock farmersalongtheborder regionbetween Based onthistheoreticalframework, this paperseekstoshow and socialcontext. be definedfromahazardorset ofthematsomespecificnatural “Vulnerability towhat?”Inotherwordsvulnerabilitywillalways gation onvulnerabilityisundertaken, itisfundamentaltoquestion: important elementsforreflection. They statethatwhen aninvesti interconnected. InthissenseMarandolaandHogan(2006)offer specific contexts but both the social and natural dimensions are ural contexts. The risksassociatedwithvulnerabilityoccurin vulnerability do not occur in isolation in separate social and nat This means assuming that the phenomena involving situations of the advancementofknowledge. tives aroundtheissueofvulnerabilityconstitutesachallengefor logical pictureincorporatingthedifferent approachesandperspec vulnerability. For this reason, to make a broader theoretical-onto spectives offer majorelementstoponderthequestionsrelative notion ofvulnerability, it isimportanttorecognizethatbothper logical – perspectivespresentinsocialandnaturalsciencesonthe Considering thenuancesbetweentwo– theoreticalandonto the symbolicfactorsinvolvingneedsandpriorities. (whether individualsorgroups)perceiveasvulnerabilityandcapture dominant group.Forthisauthoritisnecessarytoknowwhatthey been formulated in parts from models designed by the wealthier ion onlymaynotreflectrealitybecausetheneedsofpooresthas Chambers (2006)pointsoutthatthevisionfocusedonexperts’ opin own vulnerability. focusprimarilyonhowtheyperceivetheirhave, thatis,itshould means of problem solving (adopted strategies) that the individuals policies thatwillreducevulnerability, asitisnecessarytoknowthe inlanders to face drought supplies important elements to develop in thetropics,notesthatidentificationofstrategiesadoptedby individuals. Ribot(1995),inastudycarriedoutsemiaridregions to makepredictionsaboutthepossiblereactionsbeadoptedby the past(Chambers,2006).Knowingthesestrategiesisakeystep ------

Eleveurs familiaux sur la frontière Brésil - Uruguay

Uruguay and Brazil perceive as vulnerabilities, the risks they face was incomplete primary level. In Uruguay, education levels were in the context of socioeconomic and environmental changes, and higher, only 25% had primary education and 50% of the interview- their capacity to adapt/react to these risks considering the differ- ees had a relative who had received technical courses. ences between the two countries. Experience in the activity

■ METHODS The experience of the head of the family in livestock farming was significant in both countries, with an average of 42 years in Bra- Research context zil and 46 years in Uruguay, which also might show aging of the farmers interviewed (although it could not be generalized to the The study was conducted in Gaucho Pampa, on the border between entire population). Despite this similarity of age there was a major Brazil and Uruguay. We interviewed sixteen livestock farmers, significant difference with regard to access to retirement pensions. eight near the city of Santana do Livramento (Brazil) and eight in In Brazil, 75% of interviewees had at least one retirement pension Rivera Department (Uruguay). In Brazil, the survey was conducted within the family, which significantly contributed to the support in the town of Cerro da Arvore, and in Uruguay near , and social reproduction of the family. In Uruguay, the law obliges in the towns of Ataques and Valle del Lunarejo. farmers to retire from farming when they claim their retirement Santana do Livramento is located at 30º 53’ 27” S and 55º 31’ pension. Thus, the Brazilian family farmer was able to rely on an 58” W with an altitude of 208 meters. This is the same position for important external income, contrarily to the Uruguayan farmer. Rivera, as both zones constitute practically one location called the In Uruguay we met some producers who had a family member ‘Integration Border’, with a dry border that allows intense cultural, who retired from urban activities and returned to live in the coun- economic and social interconnection. tryside. This was a notable difference between the two countries that contributed to an increased vulnerability of Uruguayan family Santana do Livramento’s main agricultural activity is livestock livestock farmers and which also influenced their production ways farming (beef and dairy cattle, and sheep), rice and fruit produc- because the income had to come entirely from farming. tion representing a minor activity. The city has experienced a decline in the population (although mainly in the urban population) with high dropout rates (-9.18%) between 2000 and 2010. Rivera ■ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION is the capital of the department of the same name in Uruguay where beef cattle and sheep husbandry predominates and, more Interviewees identified some issues as their main vulnerabilities, recently, forestry (monoculture of eucalyptus and pine trees). both external and internal, assigning scores from 1 to 5 according to their perception of the importance of each factor (Table I). In Characteristics of family livestock farmers general, both in Brazil and Uruguay the question of succession was regarded as one of the major internal vulnerabilities in the medium Access to land and long terms (Table I). Interviewees considered that this kind of Sixteen family livestock farmers were interviewed: eight in Brazil, situation had worsened in recent years as the sons and daughters where the farms covered between 30 and 230 ha with an average left to study or work and did not return to the farms. In general, of 120 ha, and 71% of the farmers owned the land; and eight in in both countries the vast majority of interviewed people intended Uruguay, where the farms covered between 31.5 and 572 ha with to continue their livestock farming activity and preferred that their an average of 260 ha, and 81% of the farmers owned the land. In children also remained on the farm, especially to keep ownership both countries land availability was a limiting factor for the farm- of the land. About 62% of respondents assumed that some of their ers. In Brazil, the main strategy used to overcome this difficulty was to lease areas from neighboring farmers where their animals were moved to, paying monthly for each (‘cattle per head’). In Table I Uruguay, this strategy was not used because of the presence of Perception of family livestock farmers on the main forestry companies which raised land price and thus increased vulnerabilities to which they are exposed competition and reduced land availability for livestock farming. Most people interviewed (75% in Brazil and 50% in Uruguay) had access to land through inheritance with some later acquisitions. Variable Brazil Uruguay Although there was a quest for more land, the restrictions were greater in Uruguay, where 57% of interviewees kept their areas Average* SD Average SD stable vs 37.5% in Brazil who extended their lands through leases. Cattle herd Difficulty in identifying 4.50 1.41 4.50 1.41 potential successors The cattle herd average of the family livestock farmers interviewed Mobility difficulties 4.38 1.40 1.00 0.00 in Brazil was around 130 head and the main commercialized cat- (roads in poor conditions) egories were calves and cull cows. In Uruguay, the cattle herd average per interviewed farmer was around 216 head and the main Weather factors (drought 4.25 1.48 5.00 0.00 and harsh winters) commercialized categories were also calves and cull cows. Difficulty in hiring labor 3.88 2.10 4.50 1.41 Families Exchange rates, uncertainties 2.78 1.98 5.00 0.00 Most families comprised a couple and one child (50%) or only a in prices received couple (25%). In Brazil, in most of the studied cases, one child Input price 2.25 1.83 5.00 0.00 (or more than one) migrated to the city in search of alternatives. This configuration denotes a situation similar to that observed Cattle theft 3.63 1.77 3.86 1.85 in other studies (Azevedo, 2010; Matte, 2010; Ribeiro, 2009). SD: standard deviation

The predominant level of education of the interviewees in Brazil * Calculated from a score of 1 (not important ) to 5 (very important) tropicaux, 2015, 68 (2-3) : 55-59 des pays et de médecine vétérinaire Revue d’élevage 57 Family livestockfarmersontheBrazil-Uruguayborder

58 Revue d’élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux, 2015, 68 (2-3) : 55-59 ■ SYSTÈMES D’ÉLEVAGE ET FILIÈRES profit (Azevedo, 2010; Matte, 2010; Ribeiro, 2009). These studies farming,notnecessarily inthefieldof livestock faction towork and, amongtheirobjectives,tradition, landattachmentandsatis works on family livestock farmers highlight their risk aversion Some ofuncertaintyorcrisis. asituation facedwith react when include farmers’ behavior, strategies,andhowtheyreact orwould An analysisoffamilylivestock farmingvulnerabilityoughtto in Brazil. reported buyinginputsinUruguaybecausetheywerecheaperthan andpaymentuncertainty.ards Brazilians some Furthermore, cult becauseofitssmallscale,lackdefinitionbreedstand inputs. According to the Brazilians commercialization was diffi Above all, they almost unanimously mentioned thehigh price of price ofcattlemainlycausedbyfluctuationsintheexchangerate. ians. The Uruguayanscitedasuncertaintiesthevariationsin to uncertaintyoverpricescharged orpricespaidthantheBrazil guayans gavemoreimportancetovulnerabilityfactorsrelated faced difficulties in accessing distributionchannels, the Uru countries concernedcommercializationissues. Although neither Another difference betweenthefamilylivestockfarmersofboth opportunity foraridetothecity. fic oftrucks(alsofromforestrycompanies),therewasalwaysthe tained (especiallybyforestrycompanies)and,withtheheavytraf an important factor because they considered them as well main The on the other hand did not cite road conditions as trade, services,andmoregenerallycommercializationpossibilities. road conditionsthatrestrictedmovement,hamperingthuscattle Among thedifferences theBraziliansemphaticallycitedpoor difficulties insomeseasons. lack ofmanpower, whereasinUruguayitisnot anditthuscauses tion. InBrazilthisisacommonpracticeandithelpssurmountthe i.e. the exchange of services among neighbors without compensa major difference betweenthetwocountriesconcernedreciprocity, mills thatattractmuchofthelaborinregion.However, one crops buttodayitisrathercausedbyforestrycompaniesandsaw in hiringlaborinitiallyrelatedtothecompetitionwithintensive “there arenomorepeopleinthefield.”InUruguay, thedifficulty work inthefieldwasstriking,asstressedbyalivestockfarmer: onfamilylabor,based thenear‘disappearance’ ofpeoplewho ficulty inhiringlabor. InBrazil,althoughtheactivitywaslargely Another similarcharacteristictobothcountriesrelatedthedif deal withthesesituations. conditions andthattheyshouldfromthenonestablishmeasuresto stated thattheyconstantlyfaceddifficulties causedbyweather with regardtoproduction. Thus, around80%oftheinterviewees weather events(especiallydroughts)constitutedamajorproblem both countries. There wasconsensusamonglivestockfarmersthat A similarperceptionofclimatechangeissueswasalsosharedby as oneofthecausesfordecreaseinsheepbreeding. duction in general. Uruguayan livestock farmers cited animal theft knew thatitwasachronicproblemimpactedlivestockpro not been confronted with cattle theft in the last two years, they tion tocattletheft. Although mostlivestockfarmersinBrazilhad Table I alsoshowsasimilaritybetweenthetwocountriesinrela Brazil. livestock farming asa way to survive was much higher than in tryside difficult. InUruguay, thelevelofconfidenceexpressedin transportation difficulties wereelementsthatmadelife inthecoun side. The relativelylongdistancesfromschoolscombined with to motivatechildrenand/oryoungpeoplestayinthecountry farmers pinneddowntheaccesstoschoolsasamajorconstraint children would be interested in staying. The Brazilian livestock ------

and tractors(average3.86). as reinforcing structures and buying equipment, e.g. fences, sheds improving beefcattlebreedsandfeeding(average3.86),aswell the forestindustry. Thus, Uruguayans’ investmentsaimedmoreat of landhadrisengreatlyintheareasbecauseinvestmentsby age 3.25).Uruguayanswouldignorelandacquisitionastheprice acquire land(average3.63)andimprovehousingconditions(aver in theeventofsurplusfinancialresourcesBrazilianswould Although they considered it a difficult activitywith high costs, sisted inurbanpensionsbroughtalongbyfamilymembers. consisted inruralpensions,whereasUruguayans’ casetheycon in timesofcrisis.ItwasnoteworthythatBrazilians’ casethey did notmentionit.Retirementpensionswereidentifiedasabuffer sale ofanimalsregardlessthepricecattle;Uruguayans The Brazilianspointedout,asasecondstrategyincrisis,the farmer. or partofitwasratheranon-optionforthistypelivestock production systemandagrarianstructure.Indeedthesaleofland ers find mechanisms to reduce costs without tinkering with the approach todecisionmaking.Riskaversionmadelivestockfarm ciated withthewaystheymanagedproduction,aswelltheir expenses andwaitforthecrisistoend. This was probablyasso often reportedbyfarmersfromBrazilandUruguaywastoreduce ment on three main (Tablestrategies their actionsinacrisissituation,thefarmersemphaticallycom findings. thepresentresearch agree with onWhen interviewed * Calculatedfroma score of1(notimportant)to5(veryimportant) SD: standarddeviation markets. family reproductionweremorerelatedtoclimatethanpricesor perceptions of risks that threatened their production systems and fluctuations) conditions.However, thefamilylivestockfarmers’ access tocredit),infrastructure(roads)andmarket(exchangerate ties werecausedbydifferences inpublicpolicies(retirementand by purchaseorlease. The dissimilarperceptionsonvulnerabili thelackofsuccessorsanddifficultysuch as toexpandland as theweather (especially droughts), aswelltointernal factors on vulnerabilitiestheymightfacerelatedtoexternalfactorssuch others. The similarperceptionsofthefarmersfrombothcountries andsomeverydifferentilar perceptionsonsomeissues oneson characteristics offamilyfarminginsmallareas,whohadverysim on theborderbetweenBrazilandUruguaypresentinggeneral These resultsshowedtheexistenceofagrouplivestockfarmers ■ retirement pensions Use moneyfrom Commercialize cattle expect thecrisistoend Reduce expensesand Variable CONCLUSION Possible strategies offamilylivestock farmersfacing a situationofcrisisand/orvulnerability in2011 Brazil Table II Average* SD 3.50 4.25 4.50 II). The the strategy most 2.07 1.49 1.41 Uruguay Average 3.75 1.00 4.00 1.89 0.00 1.73 SD

------Eleveurs familiaux sur la frontière Brésil - Uruguay

REFERENCES Marandola JR E., Hogan D.J., 2006. As dimensões da vulnerabilidade. São Paulo Perspect., 20: 33-43 Alves H.P., Da F., Ojima R., 2008. Vulnerabilidade às mudanças Matte A., 2010. A questão sucessória dos pecuaristas familiares no climáticas nas áreas urbanas do estado de São Paulo: mudança no município de Dom Pedrito RS. Relatório de Estágio em Zootecnia, regime de chuvas e características socioeconômicas e demográficas Area de Desenvolvimento Rural. (Curso de Zootecnia). Palmeira da população. In: IV Encontro Nacional da ANPPAS, Brasília, DF das Missões, Brasil, Centro de Educação Superior Norte do RS, Azevedo L.F., 2010. A questão sucessória dos pecuaristas familiares Universidade Federal de Santa Maria no Alto Camaquã. Relatório de Estágio em Zootecnia, Area de Mayorga D., Mayorga F., 2011. O capital social e o capital físico na Desenvolvimento Rural (Curso de Zootecnia). Palmeira das Missões, estratégia de redução da vulnerabilidade do homem do campo: um Brasil, Centro de Educação Superior Norte do RS, Universidade estudo de caso. Rev. Econ. Nordeste, Fortaleza, 38: 406 Federal de Santa Maria Moser C., 1998. The asset vulnerability framework: reassessing urban Chambers R., 2006. Vulnerability, coping and policy. IDS Bull., 37: 33-40 poverty reduction strategies. World Dev., 26: 1-19 De Sherbinin A., Schiller A., Pulsipher A., 2007. The vulnerability of Ribeiro C.M., 2009. Estudo dos modos de vida dos pecuaristas familiares global cities to climate hazards. Environ. Urban. J., 19: 39-64 da região da Campanha do . Tese Doutorado, Giddens A., 1991. As consequências da modernidade. UNESP, São Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil Paulo, Brasil Ribot J.C., 1995. Climate variability, climate change and social Gunther I., Harttgen K., 2009. Estimating household’s vulnerability vulnerability: moving forward by looking back. In: Climate variability, to idiosyncratic and covariate shocks: a novel method applied in climate change and social vulnerability in the semi-arid tropics (Ribot Madagascar. World Dev., 37: 1222-1234 J., Magalhães A., Panagides S., Eds). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, p. 1-9 Kay C., 2007. Algunas reflexiones sobre los estudios rurales en América Latina. Iconos. Quito, Rev. Cienc. Soc. (29): 31-50 Schejtmann A., Berdegue J.A., 2003. Desarollo territorial rural. Documento de trabajo. RIMISP, Santiago, Chile Leff E., 2000. Ecologia, capital e cultura: racionalidade ambiental, democracia participativa e desenvolvimento sustentável. FURB, São Sen A., 2001. Desenvolvimento como liberdade. Companhia das Letras, Paulo Blumenau, Brasil. (Coleç. Soc. Ambiente 5) São Paulo, Brasil

Résumé Resumen Waquil P.D., Neske M.Z., Ribeiro C.M., Schlick F.E., Andreatta T., Waquil P.D., Neske M.Z., Ribeiro C.M., Schlick F.E., Andreatta T., Perleberg C., Borba M.F.S., Trindade J.P., Carriquiry R., Malaquin I., Perleberg C., Borba M.F.S., Trindade J.P., Carriquiry R., Malaquin I., Saravia A., Gonzales M., Claudino L.S.D. Vulnérabilité des éleveurs Saravia A., Gonzales M., Claudino L.S.D. Vulnerabilidad de las familiaux à la frontière entre Livramento et Rivera au Brésil et en explotaciones ganaderas familiares en la frontera de Livramen- Uruguay : analyse comparative to-Rivera entre Brasil y Uruguay: análisis comparativo

Le groupe social appelé les éleveurs familiaux a suscité l’intérêt Las ciencias sociales, ecológicas y económicas han mostrado des sciences sociales, économiques et environnementales. La interés en estudiar el grupo social llamado explotaciones gana- principale caractéristique de ce groupe, présent dans le biome deras familiares. La principal característica de este grupo, pre- Pampa au sud du Brésil et en Uruguay, est la production basée sente en el bioma de la Pampa en el sur de Brasil y Uruguay, es sur le travail familial sur de petites parcelles, exprimant un mode la producción de ganado de carne, basada en trabajo familiar de vie autonome, très dépendant toutefois de fortes relations en pequeñas extensiones de tierra, expresando una forma de avec le milieu naturel et marqué par l’aversion au risque. L’ob- vida autónoma, la cuál es sin embargo, altamente dependiente jectif de cet article a été de faire une analyse comparative des de las fuertes relaciones con el medio ambiente físico y marcada facteurs de vulnérabilité des éleveurs familiaux du sud du Brésil por la aversión del riesgo. En el presente estudio realizamos un et d’Uruguay, ainsi que des perceptions de ces acteurs sociaux análisis comparativo de los factores de vulnerabilidad de las sur les risques et les stratégies mises en place pour atténuer les explotaciones ganaderas familiares en Brasil y Uruguay. Compa- menaces. Une enquête a été menée dans le but de répondre à ramos también la percepción del riesgo de estos actores socia- ces questions, à partir d’interviews de seize éleveurs familiaux, les y las estrategias implementadas para mitigar las amenazas. huit dans chaque pays, dans les villes de Santana do Livramento Se llevó entonces a cabo una encuesta, que incluyó entrevistas (Brésil) et Rivera (Uruguay). Le choix de ces communes a été lié en 16 establecimientos ganaderos familiares, ocho en cada país, au fait que, malgré leur proximité géographique de chaque coté cerca de las ciudades de Santana do Livramento (Brasil) y Rivera de la frontière et leurs similitudes environnementales, l’élevage (Uruguay). Aunque estas ciudades están próximas una de la otra familial n’était pas soumis aux mêmes conditions politiques et a cada lado de la frontera y por lo tanto presentan similitudes économiques, ce qui pouvait ou non influencer leurs perceptions ambientales, las escogimos porque las fincas familiares no están et leurs réactions. Les résultats ont montré que les éleveurs étaient sujetas a las mismas condiciones políticas y económicas, que principalement affectés par les vulnérabilités provenant de fac- podrían (o no) influenciar las percepciones y reacciones de los teurs externes comme le climat (sécheresses ou hivers rudes, par finqueros. Los resultados muestran que los finqueros ganaderos exemple) mais aussi de facteurs internes (accès à la terre limité, estaban principalmente afectados por vulnerabilidades origina- successeurs). Du point de vue des éleveurs familiaux, les plus das en elementos externos como el clima (ej: sequías o invier- grands risques pour leur système de production et leur mode de nos inclementes), pero también en elementos internos (falta de reproduction sociale étaient plutôt liés aux variations climatiques acceso a la tierra y sucesores). Desde el punto de vista de los fin- qu’aux facteurs de prix et de marchés. queros ganaderos familiares, los mayores riesgos a sus sistemas de producción y a la reproducción social del sistema estaban más Mots-clés: bovin, agriculture familiale, facteur de risque, Brésil, relacionados al clima que a las variaciones de precio o mercado. Uruguay Palabras clave: ganado bovino, explotación agrícola familiar, fac-

tor de riesgo, Brasil, Uruguay tropicaux, 2015, 68 (2-3) : 55-59 des pays et de médecine vétérinaire Revue d’élevage 59