Diagnóstico de aceitação da urina humana como fertilizante agrícola: o olhar dos consumidores e produtores rurais da Chapada Diamantina

Abstract

The excessive use of water resources by the sanitation and agriculture sectors, in addition to the excessive use of fertilizers, led to the need to develop more ecological practices, such as ecological sanitation that employs techniques such as the use of human urine in agriculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reaction of consumers and farmers about the cultivation and consumption of products fertilized with human urine, as well as search techniques to increase the acceptability of this practice. For the research, questionnaires were applied in street markets and rural communities in four cities of Chapada Diamantina. According to the results, it was found that most of the population is unaware of this practice and, mostly, they showed reactions of rejection and strangeness, but despite this result, a reasonable part of the population would be willing to buy this type of product, if necessary. However among the farmers, the practice aroused much more interest and acceptability, but still faces the lack of information and training for producers. The results obtained in the research arouse the need to invest in raising awareness, promoting information and technical knowledge about the use of human urine for agricultural purposes, in order to increase the interest and acceptability of this type of practice.