The object of study of this research consists of analyzing the Pronaf rural credit
program as an instrument for empowering rural women in the state of Tocantins. The
context in question is the period from 2013 to 2020, when Pronaf Mulher contracts
were analyzed in different municipalities in the state. The research problem that
guided this study is to understand how Pronaf acts as an agent of empowerment for
rural women in Tocantins, with a view to promoting their economic, political and
social autonomy. The objective of this research was, therefore, to analyze how
Pronaf interferes with the empowerment of rural women in Tocantins, understanding
the scope of its objectives and the diversity of regional contexts. The research was
developed based on a methodology that included the analysis of documents, such as
Pronaf Aptitude Declarations (DAPs), and interviews using the Oral History
methodology. The interviews were carried out in the rural communities of Vale Verde
and Três Lagoas. Data analysis was based on a theoretical framework that considers
women's empowerment theories, including factors such as access to information,
training and financial resources. The results showed that Pronaf provided
improvements in the economic, social, personal and political dimensions of rural
women in Tocantins. However, a survey revealed that the majority of people do not
have access to rural credit, which indicates that the program only partially achieved
its objectives. There was a large variation in the number of Pronaf Mulher contracts
between municipalities, which were related to the IDHM and GDP per capita. An
analysis of the DAPs revealed that Sítio Novo do Tocantins had the largest number
of rural women benefiting, most of them belonging to Group B of Pronaf, with gross
annual income between R$20,000 and R$360,000. The interviews revealed the
relevance of access to information, training and financial resources for the
empowerment of rural women. The lack of relevant data on market trends,
agricultural technologies and rights interferes at different levels in the development of
economic activities. They demonstrated an interest in acquiring knowledge in
financial management, business administration and leadership. Access to financial
resources was identified as a crucial factor in the economic empowerment of rural
women, but they faced difficulties in obtaining credit. The conclusion is that it is
necessary to expand access to information, training and financial resources to
promote the empowerment of rural women in Tocantins and deal with differences in
access to rural credit, taking into account the particularities of each region. These
measures can contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and empowering
environment, favoring the economic, political and social autonomy of rural women.
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