Análise da sustentabilidade da atividade bovina leiteira no Município de Pombal, Paraíba.

Abstract

Brazil has one of the largest dairy cattle herds in the world. However, despite being among the major world producers of milk, the national dairy industry is quite heterogeneous. Part of some regions such as the Brazilian Northeast, is still under development to meet the standards of quality and quantity and get the competitive market, such as the municipality of Pombal, to be located in the backlands of Paraiba, the present study area, which is recognized statewide for its dairy potential. In this context, this study aims to make an analysis of the sustainability of dairy cattle of Pombal, in their institutional (technological), social, economic and environmental aspects. For the execution of this study, site visits and application of semi-structured questionnaires, 50 dairy farmers, belonging to thirty- two rural areas of this municipality were necessary. From the responses, indicators were calculated using the method of UNDP / UN (1998), whose results ranged from 0 (zero) to 100 (one hundred) and were divided into four grades of sustainabilities: critical, poor , good or excellent. Then applied to the mathematical formula called GSI (Global Sustainability Index) developed by González and Carvajal (2002 ). When the result of the IGS is less than or equal to 50%, the activity is presented in the field of unsustainability will be more sustainable and close to 100% . The results presented in the institutional dimension ratios of 37%, the social dimension in 58%, both considered bad grades sustainability. In the environmental dimension ratios of 60%, both considered good grades for sustainability and ultimately the economic dimension with grade 36% in bad for the sustainability level . The calculated IGS was 47.74% which can not be considered sustainable. Thus, the results identify that the dairy cattle production, Pombal, needs attention, most public policies for the sector , not only in economics but also in social and environmental dimensions, enabling improvements in the quality of life of those involved, but also to conserve natural resources.