Proceagri e o desenvolvimento da fruticultura no Estado do Ceará: o caso do agropolo baixo Jaguaribe

Abstract

Within the expansion of irrigated agriculture in Ceará State, SEAGRI Secretary for Imgated Agriculture of Ceará State was created. It's program, PROCEAGRI, aims to transform part of Ceará State in a great agrobusiness center, with production of fruits, flowers and vegetables for the internal and external markets. This program has two strategic projects - Agropolos and Caminhos de Israel. The present dissertation evaluated the impact of PROCEAGRI in the fruit market in Ceará State, considering the case of Low Jaguaribe Agropolo. The used data were get through direct interviews with fruits producers in the Municipal districts of Aracati, Limoeiro do Norte and Quixeré, in October 2001. Secondary data from the Brazilian Institute Foundation of Geography and Statistics-IBGE and Planning Institute Foundation of Ceará-IPLANCE was also taken. Evolutive analysis of picking areas, production and income of the main fruits produced in the selected municipal districts indicates a growth in melon, banana and papaya production. Graviola, mango, pinha and seedless grapes orchards have also been implanted. Fruits exports in the State presented an increment of 468,72% in the period from 1999 to 2001, and melon is the main indutor of this growth. The producers that presented larger incomes, are among those whose profile is: larger experience in the activity, are good entrepreneurs, live in the property or close to it, devoted with exclusiveness to the activity or have a qualified professional to manage the property. In all the selected municipal districts, after 1998, there were improvements in commercial, managerial and technological aspects. The main difficulties in using the technologies were: getting loans, high implementation cost, little readiness of specialized technical support and qualified labor. The irrigation systems used are sprinkling and leaking, that has substituted central pivot system, mainly in Limoeiro do Norte, by means of the Guarantee's Fund from the state Government and BNB - Bank of Northeast Brasil. One of the most important benefits in Low Jaguaribe Agropolo has been the creation of employments, local in its majority, despite the lack of appropriate labor qualification. Commercialization is accomplished mainly by middleman. Thus, formation of groups or associations with efficient administration is recomended, so producers could get higher incomes. Many producers intend to enlarge crop areas and to introduce other kinds of fruits. Including more fruits in public schools and hospital meals, would enlarge internal market. Governamental concessions to agroindústries implementation is also aded Canned fruit and dried fruit industries, for instance; would increase Bischon, trade, employment and income. Improvement of infrastructure and technical more loans concessions and incentives for production diversification are also recomended.