SUMMARY This study found that peasants social practices in relation to Rural Extension are ambiguous and contradictory, resulting in resignation and resistence. The supremacy of scientifíc knowledge, the imposing character of educational extension programs, and the technological plans are mechanisms used to impose new knowledge and technologies. These lead the peasants to conform them selves to the hegemony of the capitalistic society. As a matter of fact, peasants resist this technological rationality. They organize the agricultural production according to their culture, their own pattern and knowledge obtained during their life experience.
peasants; rural extension; rural education