Inserção camponesa na cadeia produtiva do leite na microrregião de Imperatriz-MA: entre a autonomia e a subordinação

Abstract

This thesis treats about the process of insertion of the peasant economy in the dairy productive chain in the micro-region of Imperatriz-MA. The increase of the livestock activity in peasant properties in the region is a recent process, intensified at the beginning of the present century, and brought as main results the development of new social arrangements by these workers and the establishment of relationships between family units and different agents of the regional dairy production chain. The thesis is inspired by a directed approach of social actors. To understand this process, we used an approach that analyses peasants as protagonists with agency capacity, capable of elaborating strategies with the aim of reducing the negative effects of insertion in this new economic activity, limiting, for example, the use of inputs external to the property (fertilizers, medicines) and seeking to trade more advantageous relations for the sale of milk with the agents of the production chain in the region, the dairies and the so-called cheese makers. The field research was based on interviews, direct observation and the application of questionnaires to milk producers. Based on the analysis carried out, it was possible to conclude that peasants have managed to insert themselves, with varying degrees of success, into the regional milk production chain, from the development of models that are more dependent and/or more autonomous in relation to the input and output markets.