Avaliação do leite adquirido oriundo da agricultura familiar no município de Coronel Freitas - SC

Abstract

Milk production on small family farms is of extreme economic importance. There are few studies that show what the situation of the family agriculture in Coronel Freitas – SC is, this study aimed to analyze the different production systems as well as the marketing of milk, in which family farmers, with a production of less than 50 liters a day. The methodology used for the development of this work was based on a case study. Twenty-three milk-producer family farmers were interviewed. Besides the family farmers, the secretary of agriculture, the City Hall veterinary, a farmer with high production and another with an average milk production were also interviewed, trying to answer the following issues: What is the future of family farmers with low daily milk production? Can they continue selling their milk production as it happens nowadays? In an attempt to find answers to these problems and the desire to understand the importance of dairy farming in the city under study is that this work is based and develops. The choice was due to the difficulties that these producers can face in the dairy farming. Among these difficulties it is highlighted the labor shortage, small or insufficient land area, poor structure, and sometimes, inappropriate management. Among other results obtained, depending on the established set cut, one can see that this activity is carried out in properties with little land area, usually by older people. The study detected some obstacles that may impact in the development of this activity in small areas. Neverthless, it can be concluded that the dairy business in Coronel Freitas, has an economic relevance and promotes local development.