Dinâmica territorial e setorial da cadeia produtiva do leite no alto sertão sergipano

Abstract

In the last two decades, the territory of the Alto Sertão region of Sergipe has become the largest dairy basin in the state, becoming one of the most important activities in generating income for individual family farmers. This is because it offers daily returns and, in microeconomic terms, is one of the most dynamic sectors of the Northeastern economy, alongside large-scale production products, such as agribusiness corn and “subsistence products”, such as cassava and beans. In the Alto Sertão region, milk production is growing, concentrated and has a sectoral character, generating relevant socioeconomic effects, by increasing the potential to develop the local economy and impacting farmers’ income. The approach focuses on the dialectical relationship between family farming and the territorial dynamics of dairy farming. This scenario is analyzed in the territory, considering the potentialities and limitations that involve, for example, the subordination of family farmers. The thesis aims to analyze the milk production chain in the Alto Sertão region of Sergipe in its interfaces from the acquisition of inputs, production, processing and marketing. The thesis is developed under the perspective of regional and territorial development, which allows innovation and construction of different scenarios, in view of the socioterritorial processes of the milk chain in the Alto Sertão region of Sergipe, in which the territory is constructed from human actions and productive social relations. The research adopts the empirical-analytical methodology, using the following procedures: 1- bibliographical research, focusing on the themes “space and territory”, as categories of geographic analysis; family farming; local development; sustainable development; milk production chain; associations; cooperativism, Social Capital and innovation. 2- field research in the municipalities of Gararu, Monte Alegre de Sergipe, Nossa Senhora da Glória, Poço Redondo and Porto da Folha, with the application of interviews. 3- photographic records and area mapping. Finally, 4- data cataloging and writing of the thesis. The absence of an associative culture among milk producers was observed, which weakens them in the face of subordination to the processing agroindustry. The success of milk production in the region is the result of a series of factors, but in the medium and long term it becomes a risk for small producers to remain in this chain, due to the high production costs and the absence of a price appreciation policy that meets the local/regional conditions for survival. On the other hand, the activity brings economic development to the region, by instigating the development of several local economic segments, which are demanded by the productive condition. Therefore, even with the socioeconomic improvements promoted by the milk production chain together with family farming, there is still great heterogeneity among the municipalities studied, such as their potential and limitations.