DAIRY PRODUCTION: A CHALLENGE FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF FAMILY FARMS AT THE TRANSAMAZON REGION, IN THE STATE OF PARÁ

Abstract

The dairy farming in the Brazilian Amazon undergoes continuous changes in both the structural point of view of the production chain and in relation to production. The objective of this study is to identify the obstacles and challenges of dairy production for the dairy farmers of the Transamazon region, in the State of Pará, Brazil. This study is part of a doctoral research developed in this region in the period of 2007 to 2010. The methodology combines interviews with farmers and key informants, retrospective analysis and typology. The results show a gradient of development of dairy farms, where two types of producers are highlighted by this study, which are called here “Opportunist type” and “Persistent type”. Due to internal and external factors to the establishments, there is a constant fluctuation between these types along this gradient. Among these factors, access to market is essential, and largely defines the guidelines that producers follow in the conduct of their dairy systems. The milk production chain is still quite weakened. The existing dairies are small, the radius of collection is dispersed, and their operating history is unstable. These aspects lead to considerable uncertainty on the part of farmers, so this causes them not to invest in the activity, as they consider it risky.