Perfis e demandas de treinamento dos profissionais rurais que atuam na região Noroeste do estado de Mato Grosso

Abstract

The agricultural sector plays a fundamental role in the development of the Brazilian economy, and this extends to the State of Mato Grosso, where the northwest region stands out as one of the areas with the highest growth in the sector. In this context, technical professionals play a key role in generating knowledge, transmitting information and identifying the challenges and demands of the community. The objective was to characterize the profile of technical professionals in the northwest region of Mato Grosso, identify the demands for knowledge and learning prioritized for service, as well as understand the influence exerted in the region by public and private institutions. It is necessary to understand how technicians are training, which methods are preferable, which institutions have been driving training in the agricultural sector, as well as understanding the contribution of the Federal University of Mato Grosso in the region. The questionnaire method was used with a descriptive analysis, adopting a strategy called “Needs Assessment Circuit”, validated as the most practical method for collecting data in the field. Through extension initiatives, fortyfour (44) agricultural professionals participated. The collected data was organized into tables and graphs, and the responses were coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. It was observed that the majority of interviewees were male, with a maximum age of 45 years and trained in undergraduate courses. The professionals interviewed participate in one to three courses per year, preferring practical activities such as field days, and are open to participating in virtual training, in addition to preferring WhatsApp and scientific publications to stay up to date and pass on information to the target audience. The Federal University of Mato Grosso plays a significant role in the production of studies and research that promote the dissemination of scientific publications, considered by field technicians as an essential resource for agronomic recommendations. The professionals interviewed serve more than 60 producers in different crops annually and highlight the off-season period as the best time to participate in training. This study represents the first characterization of technical professionals in the Northwest region of Mato Grosso, subsidizing educational actions aimed at this public based on priority learning sources and methods, in addition to enabling the construction of necessary new lines of research.