Milk production in the microregion of Imperatriz/MA and the possibilities of insertion of the peasentry in commercial activities

Abstract

This article deals with the problem of the inclusion of peasant agriculture in mercantile activities based on the analysis of the performance of the milk producers of the microregion of imperatriz, state of maranhão, in the production chain of the local dairy sector. We will describe the general characteristics of dairy production in the Imperatriz microregion, the peculiarities of the production chain, the peasant production units and their forms of insertion in markets. The methodology employed involved different techniques and sources. On the one hand, analyzes of quantitative data on the milk production of the Imperatriz microregion were done from the database of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). This information provided an overview of the situation of regional milk production and the participation of peasant agriculture in this production chain. Secondly, analyzes of qualitative information obtained through interviews and direct observation were made to the farmers producing milk in the region under study. This information, in turn, allowed us to know the material conditions in which the activities related to the dairy cattle raising and the various commercialization channels through which peasant milk production reproduces.