Planejamento e desenvolvimento regional: a especialização regional produtiva fumageira no Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

This research investigates and debates the tobacco specialization in the micro-region of Santa Cruz do Sul, the largest tobacco producer and exporter in Brazil, and its consequences on the use of this territory. This research analyzes the planning actions that take place at different scales and how these plans present the issues related to tobacco monoculture. With a qualitative and quantitative basis, it addresses issues of historical materialism as well as current issues for a better characterization of this micro-region. Structured in four chapters, in the first, the theoretical understanding is executed with a historical perspective of how Planning arises as a regional development policy. In the second chapter, the approach to the theme takes place, through the study of tobacco production in Rio Grande do Sul, public policies, and regional specificities. The third chapter analyzes the different planning and development instruments linked to the micro-region of Santa Cruz do Sul, selecting between diagnosis and actions, the most important points related to regional specialization, which indicate future actions on this territory. The theoretical basis is composed of authors from different areas of knowledge such as Milton Santos (2000, 2001), Carlos Brandão (2012), Roberto Lobato Côrrea (1992), Celso Furtado (2009), Rogério Leandro da Silveira (2015), among others. The result presented in the final considerations reinforces the economic importance of tobacco production for the micro-region in question, and also for other regions of the state and Brazil. Even with the existence of the Framework Convention Committee against Tobacco in Brazil, the production of tobacco does not have an end prediction; however, under this discourse, the culture has been neglected, which increases regional inequalities and economic instability, implying serious consequences, primarily for the rural producer. Therefore, regional planning actions continue to be superficial in relation to regional specialization.