Farming system for irrigated crops in the submédio São Francisco region. I. Industrial tomato

Abstract

With the objective of defining more lucrative farming systems for the industrial tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) crop, the Centro de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Trópico Semi-Árido, in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, has carried out a study comparing two cropping systems: tradicional, which is the farmers technology; and improved, which is the research technology. The total cost was found to be lower in the improved system with an increase in the productivity and net income. The use of the research technology gave a rectuction of 40% in the total cost, varying from Cr $ 126.563,00/ha in the traditional system to Cr $ 75.262,00 in the improved system, With the increase in the productivity and the cost reduction, the net income varied from Cr$ 182.462,59/ha in the traditional system to Cr $ 393.751,41/ha in the improved system. Thus, the benefit/cost ratio was Cr $ 1,44 in the traditional system and Cr $ 5,23 in the improved system.