This research had the objective of characterizing the farming systems of the small farmers of the State of Ceará, Brazil. 23 geoenviromnental units, reprsenting the semi-arid area of the State, were selected and , for each of them , one municipality was chosen. In each one, a sample of farmers was selected and a questionary with 860 variables was applied. The data were analysed through multivariate statistical techniques. The results showed the existence of twelve différent types of small farmers, which were characterized according to family size, livestock, crop production, total and cultivated area (commercial and subsistence crops and pasture), technological level and différent incomes (agricultural old age pension and other activities): These farmers show distinguishable requirements regarding technology diffusion policy, priorities for research and investments. (Résumé d'auteur)