This study was undertaken to verify major issues present in the discourse of cattle farmers when discussing the use of artificial insemination (AI). Seventy-one beef and dairy cattle farmers in the state of Goiás, Brazil, were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires during AI training courses in 2010 and 2011. Data analyses were done using the classic method of textual speech content analysis, performing the pre-analytical, analytical and inferential stages. The written questions were separated in elementary context units (ECU) and sorted into similar thematic groups. These groups originated categories and subcategories, which were nominated based on an a posteriori criteria. Overall, personal motivation was the main issue characterizing discourse by farmers about adoption of AI. This motivation stems from the strong points (highlights) and positive expectations AI offers. The positive expectations were mainly related to perceptions of farmers of animal phenotype improvement rather than to the financial features of cattle production. Basic necessity was the second major issue, with emphasis on work force, infrastructure and animal handling, followed by social influence, with eminence of the institutions and people involved with AI and with the everyday life of cattle farmers. The little emphasis on human resource management and on the use of scientific knowledge may have affected the impact of AI over the years, explaining discreet indices of adoption of AI in Brazil.

Um modelo de avaliação de programa (ProGrIA) é utilizado como base para a avaliação do Pronaf no Estado da Paraíba. O ProGrIA propõe a avaliação da implantação, dos produtos da implantação e dos resultados do programa social. Para avaliar sua adequação, foram aplicados questionários, por meio de entrevistas, aos beneficiários do Pronaf. Uma análise fatorial confirmatória revelou índices de ajuste razoáveis do ProGrIA quando aplicado ao grupo de assentados da reforma agrária e índices de ajustes muito bons para o grupo dos agricultores familiares. Os resultados também mostraram que, para situações específicas, típicas da agricultura familiar, a etapa produtos da Implantação não é adequada e não deveria fazer parte do modelo ProGrIA.

A program evaluation model (ProGrIA) was used to evaluate two small samples of farmers who participated in the Brazilian Family Farming Program (Pronaf). ProGrIA proposes the evaluation of the input, the implementation products, and the final outcome of the social program. To evaluate this model, questionnaires were applied to the beneficiaries of Pronaf. A confirmatory factor analysis revealed reasonable goodness-of-fit indexes for the model ProGrIA when applied to the group of agrarian reform settlers and very good goodness-of-fit indexes for the group of small farmers. The results also showed that for specific agricultural situations, like the ones typical for the group of small farmers, the evaluation of the implementation products is not adequate and should not be part of the ProGrIA model.

Esta publicação faz parte de um estudo maior (Tese). Nela analisou-se a intenção de pagamento do crédito no contexto da avaliação do Programa Nacional de Fortalecimento da Agricultura Familiar (Pronaf) na Paraíba. A pesquisa foi executada com base na opinião dos beneficiários do Grupo A (Assentados) e B (Agricultores familiares) em duas etapas: (a) preliminar, para o levantamento de crenças e informações e (b) principal, para a medição dessas crenças. Para avaliar a intenção de pagamento, foi empregado o modelo Teórico da Ação Planejada de Ajzen (1991). Com base nesse modelo, a Atitude, a Crença normativa (componente da norma subjetiva) e a Norma Subjetiva foram, para o Grupo A, as variáveis preditoras que explicaram a Intenção de pagamento de crédito. Para o Grupo B, as dimensões Atitude, Crença comportamental (componente da atitude), Crença normativa (componente da norma subjetiva) e a crença de controle (componente da percepção de controle) influenciaram a Intenção do pagamento de crédito. A Percepção de controle não influenciou diretamente a Intenção comportamental, mas indiretamente essa variável é preditora do Comportamento-alvo.

This publication is part of a major study (Thesis). In that thesis it was analyzed the intention of Pronaf's beneficiaries to repay the credit they have received. The Pronaf is a line of credit for small farmers implemented by the Brazilian Federal Government in 1996. Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (1991) was used to evaluate the beneficiaries' intention in paying what they owned. In order to accomplish this evaluation, two studies were conducted. The first one (Preliminary Study) focused on the small farmer's beliefs about the program operation. The second (Main Study) focused on the measurement of these beliefs. Two beneficiary groups participated of the studies: Group A (agrarian reform settlers) and Group B (small farmers). According to Ajzen's model, for the participants of the Group A, the Attitude, the Normative belief (subjective norm component) and the Subjective Norm were positive significant predictors of the Intention to repay the credit. For the Group B, the Attitude, Behavioral belief (attitude component), Normative belief (subjective norm component) and Control belief (perceived behavioral control component) were positive significant predictors of the Intention to repay the credit. The Perceived behavioral control did not influence directly the behavioral Intention, but this variable indirectly predicts the target behavior.