Os mercados agroalimentares e as opções tecnológicas de produtores de hortaliças da região central do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

The insertion of vegetable producers in various agri-food markets occurs in different ways, which may be related to factors linked to the administration of the rural establishment, the technological level used in activities, receipt of technical assistance, pressure from consumers, cultural factors, tradition or context sociotechnical environment surrounding the farmer. Likewise, markets can end up causing agricultural management adopted in rural establishments to be differentiated according to the productive needs of each market and/or marketing channel. In this sense, the question arises as to which factors and technological options can help explain participation in marketing channels and agri-food markets. To answer this question, the general objective of this dissertation was established: Evaluate how the use of technologies impacts the participation in agri-food markets of vegetable producers in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. For this purpose, 30 family farmers dedicated to vegetable production were defined, located in 3 municipalities in the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, namely: Cachoeira do Sul; Santiago and Santa Maria. This research was carried out through a quantitative and qualitative survey, and, to this end, questionnaires were applied on site in rural establishments, with the aim of getting closer to the research public and their production systems. The characterization of families shows a tendency towards aging and masculinization of the rural population. There was also a tendency to use more technical itineraries for those who need greater production stability and seek to meet high demands and contracts, as is the case with those who produce in the Regional Supermarket channel. Finally, it is concluded that the use of certain types of management, or insertion in certain types of marketing channels and markets is dependent on the context that surrounds it, or the socio-technical regime to which it is subjected, and in most cases, family tradition is present as an encouraging factor in production and inclusion in channels. Keywords: Family farming. Marketing channels. Sociotechnical s