Tecnologia e rentabilidade: O caso dos produtores de leite da cooperativa (Quileite) do Município de Quixeramobim, Ceará

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the technical and economic performance of dairy cattle, identify the main barriers in activity, indicating the possible causes by identifying the technological profile of milk producers. In order to achieve this goal, it was made with data collected through survey questionnaires to the producers of milk Quixeramobim, Ceará State. Based on the literature review, we divided the system of milk production to conduct the evaluation of the technological level of the producers, in three components: management of the activity, system infrastructure of production and herd management. We analyzed to plot the producersthe following factors: marketing, productivity, racial profiling of herds, expenses incurred and gross revenues from the activity. Next, we determined the technological indices for each component separately and for all of them, based on its recommended technology, creating the mean rates of technology and technology index for dairy cattle. The producers were stratified by means of cluster analysis, presented as the technological level and used to analyze the individual contribution of each and every indicator in the index constituents. The evaluation of cost was performed using the methodology of the Integrated Agricultural Costs - CUSTAGRI. We identified four levels of technology which were subsequently laminated and used for the analysis of technological, economic, cost estimates and assessment of profitability. The survey showed that the main deficiency of the producers is to adopt appropriate management practices. Access to credit, labor, unskilled and lack of public policies aimed at promoting the dairy industry also adversely affect the results. The dairy industry in the region proved to be a profitable activity, with levels of profitability appropriate to the region and capable of delivering sustainable development in rural areas.