Mulheres, homens e práticas de convivência com o semiárido nos assentamentos do Polo Góis, Apodi/RN

The Brazilian semi-arid is marked by "Water distribution and resilient agriculture", always seeking the same structure or technologies. The city of Apodi / RN is known for its settlements conquered by means of the land struggle, with Polo Gois being one of the greatest highlights, either by territory or by production. The present research aims at analyzing the agriculture within this polo, which covers five settlements with diversified agricultural production. Interviews were conducted with farmers in these settlements, seeking to know how family farming develops, as well as policies, cultures, methods of living with the semi-arid, opportunities and difficulties faced. According to the results obtained, the settlers have diverse production, covering agriculture and livestock, from fruit plants to cereals, and goat, sheep and cattle breeding. They also practice cultivation aimed at feeding these animals and the use of resources from government projects such as the P1MC to reserve water for the dry season, and through public policies, it was possible to develop these activities and to continue. Within the settlements there are also associations, schools, health posts and others, geared towards the locality, but there is still a deficit for the education directed to the field, being necessary therefore to develop an educational system that encourages the settlers to remain in the field, giving opportunities to produce and grow without exiting the rural exodus. As much as there are many difficulties, the settlers are proud of their achievements, because they now own their land and the opportunity to produce for themselves, not depending on selling their labor to other sectors.