Políticas Públicas e Agricultura Familiar: Um Estudo de Caso no Território Rural São Mateus em Minas Gerais

This paper aimed to present the results of research carried out by Nucleus of Extension in Territorial Development (Nedet) about implementation and operationalization of universal public policies involving family farming in São Mateus Rural Territory, Minas Gerais State. In addition, it is intended to briefly describe about territorial approach of development that originated the Rural Territories Program and the difficulties in the operationalization of universal public policies in local contexts, taking as a practical example the policies studied in that Territory. As methodology, it was used a qualitative approach through bibliographic search, and semi- structured interviews as technique of data collection in the field. Public policies found several impediments for its implementation and showed minor contribution to the productive inclusion and territorial development in the evaluated period, mainly due to the absence of participation and to the inefficient dialogue among family farmers, entities that represent them, and the municipal governments