Comercialização no perímetro irrigado Várzeas de Sousa-PB: um estudo nas culturas do coco e da banana.

Abstract

The agricultural products marketing is characterized by some special particularities such as high dependence on weather conditions, limited shelf life of agricultural products, and seasonality in consumption and production. This study has the main aim of investigate the contributory factors for a competitive marketing of coconut and banana cultivation in the Perímetro Irrigado das Várzeas de Sousa - PB. This research is based on the productive chain concept with an emphasis on the marketing system, restricted to understand the production marketing process, in other words, the primary cultivation market. Certain variables are highlighted in this research, as understand the pricing, what difficulties the involved actors found in the marketing process and which are the main consumer markets of this product. The study has the standardized form as the main data collection instrument, which was applied by means of a semi-structured interview with the cultivation producers, it aimed to describe the main features of this segment. The problem was handled through a qualitative approach. The field research was realized between August and September 2016 and the following results were obtained: the predominance of male heads of household, most of producers work between 8 and 9 hours a day, being experts in coconut cultivation. As 77,7% reported to work with the fruit for more than five years and 88.9% of them with the income of up to three minimum wages. With regard to the banana, the coconut cultivation is predominant, because only 11% of the producers reported not working with the coconut as their main product. As the primary consumer markets were configured the cities of São Paulo, Brasília e Recife. There are virtually no formal marketing contracts. The sector faces price seasonality, as high prices on the summer and the low prices on the winter. Regarding the major difficulties, the water availability was portrayed by 88.8% of the respondents. Factors that may contribute to a competitive market in coconut and banana crops in irrigated area are linked to the existence of coordination between the various actors in the agro-industrial chain.