SOCIO-ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF THE CERRADO´S FARMING SYSTEMS: A MODELLING PROPOSAL

Abstract

In this paper a methodology is proposed, aiming to analyse and sum up data and information about agricultural development options in the Cerrados Region, considering the producer objectives, the interests of a community as well as the whole environment in which farms of a sub-region are settled. The quantitative relations between technical development processes of mixed (including crop, animal and marginal forestry activities) farming systems and the social and economic objectives are described under a modelling viewpoint. The focus is on a structure that aims to give a support for the evaluation process of alternative farming systems for the Cerrados Region. The whole modelling structure has incorporated components that involve: price forecasting techniques, crop simulation models, different farm models, a multiple objective programming model to mimic the development process in a particular Cerrados Sub-region and a geographic information system. Thus, an ex-ante cost and benefits evaluation tool will be, hopefully, obtained to support farming systems appraisal for a Cerrados integrated rural development.