Fatores favoráveis e limitantes ao desenvolvimento da agropecuária do Sul de Minas Gerais: uma análise interpretativa

Abstract

The major objective of this research was to identify and describe the way by which farmers' leaderships (FL) and professionals of agrarian sciences (PAC) interpreted the environment where they act, identifying favorable or limiting factors to the agricultural development ofthe southern region ofMinas Gerais (SRMG). It was used the focused-interview method to collect data. The judgement sampling technique was employed to chose interviewees; ten FL and eleven PAC were interviewed. The favorable factors identified were classifíed as cultural, social, natural resources (soil, climate and water), infra-structural (network ofco-operatives, institutions ofeducation, research andextension, road network and communication system) andlocation (proximity of the metropolitan áreas of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte). Infra-structure, location and natural resources were factors which constituted in the interviewees' vision the major differential of SRMG in comparison with other regions of Minas Gerais and Brazil. However, development potential of those factors was restricted by the ignorance of such potentialities, inefficient cooperatives management, and deficient integration among research, university, extension service and farmers. The limiting factors were classifíed into categories that portrayed the levei in which they were located, ifin the levei offarmers, if inthe region or outof the region. The factors located out ofthe region were mentioned with more frequency and they referred to orientation objects of macroeconomic nature, such as small amount of resources for rural credit, high interest rates, import of milk, import of dairy products, and unfavorable relationship among prices paid and received by farmers. The restrictive potential of those factors was associated to the insecurity for planning, discapitalization of agricultural activities, low technological levei and discouragement for the production diversification and use ofthe favorable factors related to natural resources, infrastructure and location.