Cadeia produtiva do leite e a pequena produção em Santa Rosa do Ermírio (Poço Redondo/SE): assimetrias e subordinações

Abstract

Dairy farming is prevalent in small properties and is a tradition in the semi-arid region of Sergipe. Due to its historical and economic importance, milk and its derivatives have been the focus of research in Sergipe, as they constitute a source of income and survival. In this context, Poço Redondo is currently the municipality with the highest milk production in Sergipe, suggesting a potential reorganization of the Alto Sertão dairy basin. Consequently, this study aims to understand the context of this increase in production and analyze the integration of small-scale producers in the milk production chain of the village of Santa Rosa do Ermírio in Poço Redondo, facing issues of subordination and asymmetry. To achieve this objective, the study identified the structure of the local dairy production chain concerning socio-spatial production and its regional impact. It also explains the role of the State through Technical Assistance, Rural Extension, financing policies, and technology access in facilitating the integration of farmers into the local dairy chain. Additionally, the study seeks to comprehend the production, circulation, and consumption relationships established by producers and evaluate the socio-economic changes and continuities brought about by the local dairy arrangement in the village. Thus, applying historical materialism, the nuances of milk production in village of Santa Rosa do Ermírio - The Land of Milk - can be understood as part of a macrostructure of the economic-political system and its relationship with the municipality of Poço Redondo and the state of Sergipe. From the application of semi-structured questionnaires, it was observed that the reality regarding milk production in the village is complex: there is no homogenization among producers regarding property types and sizes, resulting in significant variability in both milk production (liters) and property structures and working capital for reinvestment in the activity. Furthermore, field observations confirm an increase in milk production in the village over the last ten years. Despite an overall increase in milk production, it is evident that larger producers have experienced considerable growth, potentially contributing to an exponential increase in the total milk production of the village. This increase is attributed to various factors, primarily genetic improvement. Another interesting aspect is the dissemination of technology (genetic material), occurring both directly and indirectly: larger landowners directly acquire reproductive means of genetic material or purchase selected cattle, and indirectly, through cattle raising and the sale of calves, there is widespread dissemination of genetically modified cattle throughout the village. These animals are not only more resistant to climatic conditions, favoring sanitary management, but also more conducive to greater production gains. Additionally, the State plays a crucial role in genetic improvement through extension actions, such as courses on artificial insemination in the Alto Sertão Territory, specifically targeting milk producers. Notably, the historical legacy of this economic activity, a tradition in generating income for these rural inhabitants, contributes significantly to milk production in the village, perpetuating across different generations.