Análise da produção e consumo de erva-mate no município de Palmeira das Missões – RS

Abstract

When considering the highlight of the yerba mate in the historical context of the municipality of Palmeira das Missões - RS, currently considered as the cradle of the yerba mate, this study had as general objective to analyze the production and consumption of yerba mate in the mentioned municipality, besides to identify the profile of the herbalists and consumers, to know the main benefits and adversities, to analyze the supply and demand of yerba mate in Palmeira das Missões - RS, besides describing the main preferences of the final consumer. This study was motivated by the search for more information about the herbivory sector, with the purpose of answering the impacts that are found in the ervateira activity, in the context of the economy (supply and demand) in the municipality of Palmeira das Missões - RS. The yerba mate (Ilex Paraguariensis) began to be researched in South America in the year 1800, when its benefits became known. Historically, yerba mate has been a prominent product for the Brazilian economy, especially in the early nineteenth century. Its productive prominence was registered in Rio Grande do Sul, but with the passage of the years an expansion in the agriculture was noticed, what makes the ervateiros import the product in natura of the state of Paraná, for example. In relation to the methodology, the strategy of this study was defined as explanatory and bibliographical, based on the method of qualitative approach with quantitative data, from which the analysis of the production and consumption of yerba mate in the municipality of Palmeira das Missões - RS, based on production theory and consumer theory. Based on the analysis of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, it was noticed that the herbariums of the municipality have their productive focus basically geared to serving the domestic market and that consumers have among their preferences the quality of the product. From this study, it was possible to answer all the proposed objectives and to understand the theme of the yerba mate in the territory of Palmeira das Missões - RS.