Balanço econômico da produção de mamona e balanço energético da obtenção de biodiesel no Estado do Ceará

Abstract

In oder to know the economic and energetic balance of castor seed (Ricinus communis) for the State of Ceará, one of the main producers of in Northeast of Brazil, the present study work has been developed aiming to elaborate economic and energetic balance of castor seed production for obtaining biodiesel. The primary data were collected in Boa Viagem, Tauá and Pedra Branca municipalities. For profit analysis, income and production cost per hectare of castor seed in selected municipalities were considered. It was observed that on the average, 12,91% of interviewed farmers are using more than 80% of the recommended techniques. The castor seed production in all the three selected municipalities is economically feasible, without considering the cost related to family labor. Energy production and consumption ratio of 1.52 indicates that the each unit of energy spent on producing castor and biodiesel generates 1.52 unit of energy.