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A fruticultura como alternativa econômica aos pequenos produtores rurais: o caso da região de Dracena/SP

2003; Linguagem: Inglês

2639-6459

Adriano Rodrigues de Oliveira,

Social and Economic Solidarity

The research has as central objective to analyze the importance of the fruitculture for the development of the region of Dracena Sao Paulo, Brazil. The fruit farming activity has constituted in important strategy for the social reproduction of the small rural producers, due to the transformations unchained by the process of modernization of the Brazilian agriculture. In west of the state of Sao Paulo the agricultural activities prevail, however; this sector is characterized by low productivity, due to several factors, such as: a) distance from the main consuming centers; b) land structures associated to the extensive bovine livestock; c) absence of intervention of the public power (federal, state and municipal) in the rural area, and so on. In that context, the stagnation of the agricultural activities is verified, mainly in the traditional farmings, what has been provoking the decapitalization and consequently the expropriation of the small rural producers. Nevertheless, certain spaces internal to this area possess certain singularities and they have been developing alternative forms of agricultural exploration. Thus, the region of Dracena comes highlighting for the expressiveness of the fruitculture, developed mainly by small rural producers previously linked to the coffee growing. The grape and the acerola stand out as the main fruits cultivated and their production and commercialization have been accelerated through the collective organization of the producers in agricultural associations, mainly in the municipal districts of Tupi Paulista and Junqueiropolis. It is important to stress that the fruitculture stands out among the other agricultural activities for the potential of absorption of family labor and for the generation high value for cultivated area, being its development compatible with the structure of the small properties. Starting from those premises, it became relevant to the understanding of the dynamics of this activity and its importance in the area, as strategy of social reproduction of the small rural producer. Key-words: Fruitculture; small rural producer; strategy of social reproduction; economical alternative; association of producers; commercialization and regional development.