Agrossocioeconomic profile of rural producers in the Metropolitan Region of Cariri Cearense

Abstract

This article aims to diagnose the agrosocioeconomic profile of rural producers in the Metropolitan Region of Cariri, through a case study applied in the municipalities of Crato, Juazeiro do Norte and Barbalha. To this end, an interview was conducted with sixty farmers, twenty from each municipality, containing questions about family composition; gender, age, marital status, education level; exercise of other economic activity besides agriculture; family income; technical assistance; cultivation type; total area of the property and cultivated area; agricultural implements used on the property; the destination of production; among other aspects. The results found highlight the predominance of the male gender (61.7%), with the age group of 46 to 65 years (48.3%), elementary school (46.6%), with 70% of the interviewees among those without schooling and with fundamental level, 76.7% interviewees married or in a stable relationship, with exclusive income from agricultural activity of up to 1 (one) minimum wage, working in small properties, with an area of less than 5 (five) hectares. Among the products, poultry, corn and beans cultivation stand out, mainly family consumption (91.7%), with the surplus sold at local fairs (51.7%), delivered to school meals (30%) and sold, in 25% of cases, at the property's headquarters. The importance of strengthening the sector is reinforced through the creation of government policies to support and guarantee production and marketing in the region.