“Trabalhar na terra é uma ciência”: territorialidades femininas nas hortas comunitárias urbanas em Vitória da Conquista - BA

Abstract

The objective of this thesis is to analyze the cultivation, commercialization and consumption of food from urban community gardens in Vitória da Conquista, and their repercussions on constitution of female territorialities and on the Food and Nutritional Security of women and their families. By emphasizing women's participation in agriculture, it is possible to understand what is unique about the territory without losing sight of reflections on the various social relations, including gender relations. As a spatial framework, the urban community gardens of the municipality of Vitória da Conquista, located in the Identity Territory of Southwest Bahia, were used as a basis. This municipality was chosen because it presents a dynamic of vegetable cultivation and a food system that stands out in the region. The Territory category allowed us to understand the processes based on the complexity of power relations and the network of sociability that is formed in this food system. Reflections on gender made it possible to understand how women perceive themselves as farmers and how they experience daily life with their knowledge and skills. The research presents as methodological procedures the carrying out of theoretical studies, documentary research, field research, formalization of interviews, observation, and photographic records. The choice of a qualitative approach allows the development of the research from a complex and inter- relational perspective and in connection with critical analysis. It promotes debate in a constructive and dialogical way with different areas of knowledge, which presents itself as a condition for the analysis of social and political transformations, in addition to allowing the understanding of other possibilities and realities composed of specific knowledge that manifests itself as belonging in the territory. As a result, it is considered that the four urban community gardens constitute a way of practicing agriculture in the city that provides the constitution of feminine territorialities, autonomy, income generation and sociability of female farmers. Furthermore, they contribute to the Food and Nutritional Security of their families and promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the 2030 Agenda.