Fatores condicionantes da permanência na atividade leiteira de produtores da Zona da Mata Mineira

Abstract

The productive potential of the agricultural seems to have implications on migratory process and, particularly, involves sectors of young population. It has been observed the existence of evasion of producers and its families, from rural areas to the urban areas. Therefore, it has been increasing the relative participation of the third age population in the rural areas. The aim of the research was to identify conditioning factors constraints for producers remaining or leaving the dairy activity in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, a region fairly traditional in this activity. It was driven a historic line on the subject up to the discussion on the present status. The research procedure was a simple random sampling with interviews of 44 dairy producers out of the county of Lima Duarte, MG. The data were systematized in order to provide a characterization of the standard of living of the respondents. The dairy activity was discussed on the basis of technological aspects, in use, on the production systems. There were also described the prospects regards the future of these people regard dairy production. The results indicated that more than 80% indicated their willingness to stay in dairy/livestock activity for at least 10 years more. But, only half of them confirmed positively with respect to the succession in the activity. It was concluded that there is a need for a better understanding of the reality of the dairy activity in the region, in the way to contribute to the formulation of appropriate public policies with the aim of their social and economic sustainability. Regards to succession, it was concluded that it is not enough only to produce efficiently, but that the producer – especially the less specialized in dairy production – faces deficiencies that are beyond their natural skills.