WELLBEING OF SMALLHOLDERS MAINTAINING HOMEGARDENS: A CASE STUDY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE EASTERN AMAZON

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of life of subsistence farmers in the municipality of Bonito, Pará, Brazil, by analyzing their objective and subjective well-being. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect socioeconomic and life satisfaction data, which were evaluated by tools of descriptive statistics and multivariate data analysis. The interviewed farmers have a low educational level and a modest family income. The average housing quality index was considered satisfactory. The degree of subjective well-being of the subsistence farmers was high and the family income had little influence on the farmer’s well-being. It is believed that well-managed homegardens can provide an increase in the family income, with a view to the economic wellbeing and a better quality of life, including the housing of these families.