The peasantry impasse: the agriculture of sitiantes of rural neighborhoods in Limeira, Sao Paulo

In Brazil, since the 1960s, agriculture has undergone significant changes in the technical sphere, due to the adoption of the productive model of modernization, and in the economic sphere, considering the consolidation of agro-industries. These transformations had an impact on peasant agriculture. This article discusses the peasant social organization and presents an analysis of the amendments related to peasant work and agriculture, notably from sitiantes, locals of the rural neighborhoods named Corrego Bonito Delgado and Frades in Limeira, city of the state of Sao Paulo. Rural neighborhoods comprise peasant territorializations and, to a greater extent, are formed by families with close social ties that preserve a shared life. Memory was conceived as a social form elaborated by these subjects and, thus, oral history was considered as a methodology. Therefore, it was noted that technical changes gradually absorbed, such as mechanization and use of chemicals like inputs and pesticides, affected the work on the field, productivity, and health. In addition, processes were initiated to subordinate the production of these peasants to the agro-industries of cotton, orange juice, and sugarcane respectively. This changes have called into question the peasants' way of life, driving them to articulate forms of recreation and permanence through public policy.