PRODUCTIVE INTERACTIONS IN FAMILY AGRICULTURE UNITS IN THE WEST COAST OF PARANAENSE

Abstract

Considering the heterogeneity of family farming, studying family units with regional characteristics is extremely important, especially in relation to their production strategies. The objective of the study is to identify the productive interactions of production units located in the West Coast region of Paraná. The research was characterized as exploratory, descriptive, with a quantitative approach. Information from 200 family units was extrac ted from the database and reports of the “Organic Agriculture Project in BP3 (Paraná Basin 03)”, work conducted and developed by Biolabore ‒ Paraná Labor and Technical Assistance Cooperative with Itaipu Binacional. Units were identified predominantly composed of small areas, with a small number of residents, using conventional agricultural practices. Productive activities are not only related to agricultural practices, but also agro-industrialization within the group. They present productive specialization related to dairy cattle farming and vegetable farming, their productive interactions vary from one to five activities, considering the activities of dairy cattle farming and vegetable farming as the main productive networks and those related to poultry farming, fruit farming, corn as strong productive networks. and soy. Marketing channels reflect the main productive activities, with large concentrations in direct sales, fairs, institutional purchases, dairy products, and cooperatives.