COMMERCIAL GAINS IN CROP ROTATION OF RICE AND SOYBEAN IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL
Keywords:
Seasonal pattern, diversification, agribusiness, production, decision-makingAbstract
Rice is an important activity in the Rio Grande do Sul’s agribusiness. It has being produced until recently as a monoculture in the floodplain areas located in the southern half of the state. Currently, soybean is becoming an alternative to the productive diversification of these areas, motivated by productive gains. In addition to the productive gains, in this article it is understood that the introduction of soybean in rotation with rice generates gains in marketing. The hypothesis is that the rotation of soybeans with rice allows gains in the sale of rice, as rice and soybeans have different seasonality. The
objective is to determine the commercial gains obtained with the rotation, and the best moments that farmers adopting the rice-soybean’s rotation should sell their commodities. In a qualitative approach, the study makes use of the seasonality analysis tool and semi-structured interviews carried out with rice/soybean farmers in the region of Pelotas/RS, to estimate the gains and to understand the producers’ decisions. The commercial advantages of the rotation are unequivocal, as it permits selling soybeans at harvest time (less seasonality), for paying production costs. The best period for selling rice is from august to february of the following year. By doing this, a farm may add up to 2.37% of gains per hectare, which corresponds to 3.7 bags of rice/crop. Through in-depth interviews farmers showed contentment with the rotation system in reason of the commercial advantages brought about.
