Characterization of local productive arrangement of the family agro-industries of Vale do Taquari, in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

Abstract

The Vale do Taquari region, in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, has its economic and social bases in family farming and agro-industrialization of food. Considering the productive agglomeration, in August 2013 the local productive arrangement of family agro-industries of Vale do Taquari (APL) was included in the state program for the strengthening of chains and local productive arrangements (Programa Estadual de Fortalecimento das Cadeias e Arranjos Produtivos Locais). The present work aimed to analyze the characteristics of agro-industries, and the determining conditions for the sustainability of the APL. The study comprised the 13 municipalities of the APL region in which the representatives of 46 familiar agro-industries were interviewed. A great diversification was observed for the local which are marketed mainly in the region and in the State. The agro-industrial activity is an important alternative of work and income generation in the family properties – which can contribute to the permanence of young people in rural areas –, from whom 65% stated that this activity is the main source of income. Sixty percent of the agro-industry manpower is female. The lack of manpower and raw material for the production process were the main difficulties pointed out. The agro-industries in the Vale do Taquari region are an important source of income and play an essential role in social reproduction and rural development in the region, acting positively on countless aspects.