Análise e diagnóstico de uma unidade de produção agrícola familiar no município de Xavantina SC

Abstract

In Santa Catarina, the number of dairy farms reduced by 20% over the last eleven years, from 89,043 in 2006, to 71,054 in 2017. The dairy crisis, promoted primarily by high costs coupled with low milk prices, has serious consequences to the sustainability of family farms, as well as the generation of employment and income in many municipalities – particularly in Western Santa Catarina. Hence, new knowledge on rural management can be very useful in the development of management methodologies to support families in rural areas. This work aims to evaluate the economic performance and explore alternatives to the development of family farming in the municipality of Xavantina-SC. The research was carried out on a dairy family farm in the municipality of Xavantina, West of Santa Catarina. A semi-structured questionnaire together with data mining on farm notes and receipts was used to collect data from January to December 2017. Relevant information accounts for production and sales, including farm inputs and outputs, labor demands, taxes, machinery and equipment. The latter two were also used to calculate depreciation. Such information made it possible to quantify farm income through the value-added model, which consists of gross product, intermediate consumption, depreciation and value added distribution. Main farm activities are dairy cattle, beef cattle and subsistence. The total annual agricultural income is R$ 84,730.40. Dairy is the most important activity to farm income (80%), followed by beef cattle (17%) and subsistence (3%). Opportunities for income growth are associated to de development of agroforestry systems and maize silage. Finally, the results show that milk production is a viable alternative for family farms. Its sustainability, however, requires attention to management and economic competitiveness, which are key to ensure business success and farm succession.