Desafios dos produtores de base familiar na produção do coco em reassentamentos públicos do Vale do São Francisco – Brasil

Abstract

Coconut (cocos nucifera) production has increased significantly around the world in the last 20 years, especially in Brazil. Its value chain includes a complex scenario with economic opportunities for local family farming and companies with specialized tecnology, and the involvement of regional and international partners links local production to the globalized market. Like most products, the success of its value chain stems from investments in both the logistic and marketing sectors. This research discusses the production and commerce of the coconut industry, with emphasis on coconut water from Petrolândia, state of Pernambuco. This city is the second largest producer of coconuts in the state. In the case studied, issues of survival and social inequality were identified as requiring academic attention and commitment. The methods were based on the Sustainable Livelihood Approach and Political Ecology with the hypothesis that this product will contribute to local sustainable development through investments in production infrastructure, marketing, and distribution. The area of study included three irrigated schemes constructed by the Chesf-Hydroelectric Company of São Francisco: Apolônio Sales, Icó-Mandantes and Barreiras Bloco 2. Local economic potential was verified to be high, including opportunities to establish an Agroindrustry Center to assist small-scale producers to enter the international network of coconut water production, based on innovative processes and cooperative participation. This thesis integrates the mission of the INNOVATE Project, a collaboration among Brazilian and German universities studying the use of water and soil in the Itaparica region of Pernambuco and Bahia, Brazil.

Keywords

• Globalization
• Brazil.
• Fruit farming
• Semi-arid
• São Francisco Valley