The dream of producing: agrarian reform farmers of states of Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil

Abstract

The work refers to 3.613 observations of agrarian reform farmers from Bahia State and 2.225 ones from Rio Grande do Sul. In both states, the poverty levels of the farmers is very high, but the ones from Bahia faces much more difficulties. The agrarian reform farmers of the two states did not attained an income level that would set them free from income transfer policies of the federal government. Very few were able to travel the road to a higher income level. In other words, they obtained the land, and realized a very important dream, but failed as producers. Agrarian reform protects its farmers against market stresses, and because of this protection cannot count on the virtues of the market to bolster efficiency and the quest for high income.