A produção de algodão no estado do Ceará: aspectos tecnológicos e competitivos

Abstract

The present research analyzed the production of herbaceous cotton in the counties of Quixadá and Quixeramobim of the State of the Ceará, focusing on technological and competitive aspects. For this purpose, primary data were obtained in the referred counties with the objectives of analyzing the socioeconomic characteristics of the cottton producers, the technological level ise, as well as to evaluate the profitability gained by these farmers. Also, the relationship of competitiveness and the technological level was verified, 30 cotton producers, 15 in Quixadá and other half in Quixeramobim, were interviewed. The analysis of socioeconomic characteristics of the cotton producers including following variables: the age, residence, education level, experience in farming and technical assisyance received. To analyze the technological level use, the following technologies were considered: seeds variety; selection of area, preparation of soil and planting; cultural practices; fitossanity; harvesting technique; post-harvest and management. To identify the level technological use, a technologica index was constructed for each one of these technologies, individually, and for the group. To determine revenue, production cost and profitability indicators the Integrated System of Agricultural Costs – CUSTAGRI technique was used. To verify the competitiveness, average cost of production and profitability indicators were calculated. The results showed that the technological level of the producing of herbaceous cotton in Quixadá and Quixeramobim is classified as excellent. The technology of seed variety; cultural practices; fitossanity and harvesting technique had higher technological index, while the management technology had the lowest index. With relation to the profitability, the results indicated that the cotton production in these counties constitutes a quite profitable activity. Finally, as the cotton has a high demand in Ceará, due tothe great presence of textile park in the State, the government should motivate the producers to increase their area destined to cotton plantation, because the production in large scale could generate many direct and indirect jobs in the State.