Access to Rural Credit for Family Agroforestry Producers: A Case Study in the Southern Region of Rio Grande do Sul

Objective: To investigate the barriers faced by family agroforestry producers to access rural credit, seeking to understand their perception and the interpretation of technicians and development agents about Agroforestry Systems (SAFs) and their eligibility for credit via PRONAF in the South Zone of Rio Grande do Sul. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on concepts of family farming, agroforestry and public policies for rural credit, highlighting SAFs as a sustainable alternative and the role of PRONAF in strengthening family farming (Miranda et al., 2016; Padovan, 2024; FAO, 2023). Method: The approach was qualitative, with the application of semi-structured questionnaires to 25 participants, including 8 agroforestry producers, 9 technicians from EMATER/RS-Ascar and 8 development agents from several municipalities. The data were analyzed according to Content Analysis (Bardin, 2011), using the Atlas.ti 2025 software. Results and Discussion: Producers face challenges such as little disclosure of credit lines, bureaucracy, absence of structured financial data, difficulties in the preparation of technical projects and fear of indebtedness. Implications of the Research: The need for more accessible policies aligned with the reality of SAFs is pointed out, with simplified credit processes, strengthened technical assistance and financial instruments adapted to the agroforestry dynamics. Originality/Value: The study contributes by discussing, from different perspectives, the challenges of access to rural credit faced by family agroforestry producers, suggesting reformulations in public policies for the effective inclusion of this group.