A percepção de empresários rurais aos fatores que influenciam os resultados econômicos de empresas rurais

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to determine the agricultural entrepreneurs' perception of the factors that affect economic results of agricultural enterprises. The study was conducted in the area of PADAP (Programof Settlement of the Alto Paranaíba), located at the municipalities of São Gotardo, Rio Paranaíba, Ibia, and Campos Altos. The region is a predominantly agricultural one in which corn, coffee, soybean, potato, pea, and vegetables are the main products raised. The target population was composed of 120 production units identified as agricultural enterprises. A sample of 17 units was selected with a confidence interval of 90%. The data, concerning the 1985/1986 agricultural year, were collected by the author through direct interviews with farmers, and using a pre-tested questionnaire. The findings showed that rural entrepreneurs presented a high level of perception of the factors that affected the Enterprises’ economic performance. As for the two groups of factors, internal and external ones, there was no difference of perception, although the median of the levels of perception for external factors had been higher. Among the external factors, there was no difference of perception; however, for the internal factors the differences were significant at the 2.5% level by the FRIEDMAN test. Climatis factors and cash returns from crops and animal raising had the highest levels of perception. It was verified also that the factors which are affecting the economic performance of agricultural enterprises in the PADAP area are the same perceived by the entrepreneurs. The variable perceived "cash returns from crops and animal raising" explained 80% of variance of the enterprises' economic result.