A Produção de mamona para biodiesel em assentamentos rurais no Estado do Ceará: Uma opção viável?

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the economic feasibility of castor bean production for biodiesel in rural settlements in the municipality of Quixeramobim, Ceará State. The primary data were gathered through out interviews and direct research by questionnaire application to producers. The research was done in all the settlements that were in production at that time, summing up 27 castor producers. The analysis was based on measures of economic returallow to conclude that castor producers earn a profit share equivalent to 9.6% out of the R$200.00 received as incentive from the government and incur in significant losses without that subside. Even with the incentive, the production system in consortium (castor, bean and maize) ended up in losses of R$-59,39; if the producer did not receive the subside those losses would reach R$-324,52. We conclude that the production system adopted is not technical and economically feasible, needing improvements, mainly concerning the production in order to achieve higher yields.