Complexo agroindustrial do sisal: da integração à desestruturação integrada: o caso da Brascorda S/A na microrregião do curimataú paraibano.

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to analyse the behavior of the BRASCORDA S/A, a specific conglomerate which is part of the sisal agroindustrial complex, and the socio-economic effects of its performance over the social agents of the sisal production of the micro-region of the Curimataú of Paraíba State from 1984 up to the present time. In the period, the BRASCORDA S/A adopted many different forms of management of production of its sisal manufactured output. Firstly, it undertook all activities related to the productive line: agricultural production and the production of equipments for the sisal agriculture, besides the industrial processing of the sisal fiber. Then it adopted a new strategy of action, the "outsourcing" of industrial processing of sisal fiber, activity that is part of the productive process of the manufactured products. In the face of this attitude taken by the BRASCORDA S/A, in particular, in the first moment above mentioned, it was verified that the connections between agriculture and industry in the sisal agroindustrial complex are complete, existing forwardly (agriculture and industry manufacturer of agricultural products) as well as backwardly (agriculture and industry of products for agriculture). These connections took place within the group, a fact that comes to prove that it functions as an agroindustrial conglomerate. The BRASCORDA attitude would have contributed to the change in the structure of production and commerce of sisal in the Curimataú. This, however, did not occur, as was testified by the sisal-producing proprietors in our sample. In this sense, it was concluded that the industry itself maintained and even reinforced the performance of the mercantile capital in the process of commercialization of the sisal fiber, thus bringing, and that the adoption of the "outsourcing" is a reaction of the crisis that is affecting the Brazilian economy, in general, as well as the one affecting the sisal production. The cyclical crises of the sisal economy are the result of the fluctuating prices of the sisal products in the international market.