Importância socioeconômica e ambiental da associação de apicultores no município de Vieiropolis - PB.

Abstract

The socioeconomic and environmental importance of the Association of Beekeepers in the Municipality of Vieirópolis-PB is the theme for the development of this work. It is worth mentioning that beekeeping is a practice developed in the most diverse Brazilian states and, particularly, in the state of Paraíba, since the beekeeping activity presents itself as a real possibility of aggregating income, at low cost, besides be supported by official funding bodies. In view of the above, it was necessary to carry out a research that contemplates the social, environmental and economic variables and from there to draw a clear and coherent profile of this activity and its benefits to the Association of Producers, specifically, of family agriculture. In this perspective, the objective of this work was to analyze the socioeconomic profile of the workers enrolled in the Associations of Beekeepers and Cattlemen of the municipality of Vieirópolis-PB. For this, a questionnaire was applied involving questions about education, age group, origin and beginning of agricultural activity. The primary data for the development of this research were obtained through the application of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, applied directly to producers and leaderships (presidents of Beekeepers and Cattlemen Associations). The secondary data were obtained with the aid of a survey on sites such as the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE); Brazilian Service of Support to Micro and Small Companies (SEBRAE); Banco do Nordeste do Brasil (BNB); Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA); Ministry of the Environment (MMA); Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC). It is concluded that the activity is more developed in the age group between 22 and 59 years; the origin of most beekeepers and cattle ranchers comes from the rural area of the municipality; the highest average, when assessed the marital status, was given to married; as to education level, most beekeepers and cattle ranchers only completed Elementary School I; the contact of 85% of the associates with the agricultural activity began from childhood or adolescence. Despite this percentage, the activities are practiced as the second source of income of Vieirópolis-PB associates.