Sustentabilidade agrícola do cultivo de acerola na região do Vale do Jaguaribe, Ceará.

Abstract

In Brazil, organic agriculture has been expanding as a sustainable production system capable of optimizing natural and socioeconomic resources, promoting self-sufficiency, and eliminating the use of pesticides and chemical inputs. In this context, it emerges as an alternative to the conventional model, mitigating the impacts of agricultural modernization. This study analyzes the effects of agroecological transition on environmental management and the annual revenue per hectare of organic acerola fruit growers in the Vale do Jaguaribe region, Ceará. To this end, the Environmental Management Index (IGA) was measured, followed by tabular analyses and parametric and non-parametric statistical tests to compare conventional and organic acerola producers. The results indicate that organic demonstrated better environmental management, achieving a high level of environmental sustainability, while the conventional group remained at a medium level. Additionally, it was found that organic producers achieve higher revenue per hectare of acerola compared to conventional.