CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA PRODUÇÃO DE PALMA FORRAGEIRA NO CARIRI PARAIBANO

Abstract

The objective of this research was to characterize the spineless forage cactus production in the semi-arid region of Paraiba State in the Northeast of Brazil. Information from 199 interviews carried out in the rural area of municipal districts in the Paraiban Cariri region was used. The interviews were conducted from February 2008 through August 2009. The data were tabulated in a spreadsheet, where a matrix with the ques- tions and answers of each interviewee was established. The production systems were defined using principal component analysis, followed by cluster grouping of quantitative variables. The first three principal compo- nents explained 61.60% of total variation. The application of cluster analysis, based on scores of the three main components, identified four cactus forage groups of producers. The livestock activity prevails on the ag- riculture and it is imposed as an appropriate activity in the production systems of the agriculture sector in the Paraiban Cariri region. The cultivation of forage cactus predominates over other cultivated forage plants, being fully incorporated into the local productive process of Paraiban Cariri region.