O pequi (Caryocar brasiliensé): uma alternativa para o desenvolvimento sustentável do cerrado no Norte de Minas Gerais

Abstract

This research shows the socio-economical importance of pequi (Caryocar brasiliensé), native tree of cerrado, explored in a extrativism way to comsuption and commercialization by population in the northern of Minas Gerais State Brazil. The study's goal is to give support to socio-economical and ecological politics that could contribute to the sustainable development of that area. The Case Study was employed in this research The data was collected from interviews and observations done betwen January and February 1997 with communities of northern of Minas Gerais, and printed matter (newspaper, magazines, research papers, books and statistic surveys). The triangulation technique was used to analyze the information. The rural communities make several products from pequi's fruit (as liqueurs, oils and soap) and have many uses of them (like food and medicine). There are industries producing liqueurs, but in the other hand the oil are hand made by rural families (land owners or not). The oil and the fruit are sold to a trader's chain that includes local, regional and retail intermediaries until the consumers. The pequi's commercialization done inside and outside Minas Gerais has two economical effects: an employer source , and an alternative income to the people enrolled in the pequi’s trade chain. The pequi's sale reprise over 50% of the rural families'annual income (not land owners), and to the land owners rural families, it's the third main source of annual income. The model of supply allowed the understanding of the production dynamic in the studied area. Using this model, it was realized that the quantity of pequi offered in the market by rural families are consequence of three variables: the wage received for the sale of their work force, the pequi’s price and manioc production.