Factors that promote and inhibitors of competitiveness: a study of the agents from production chain of pork in Rio Grande do Sul state

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the factors that promote and inhibitors of competitiveness from the agrifood system of pork. The research is qualitative and takes on the exploratory descriptive method. Regarding the collection of information, the research used data from field investigation through semi-structured open survey. For analysis and data processing the method of content analysis was used. The results show that the main elements that promote competitiveness are related with competitive strategy of integration between producers and meat packing industry, which offers benefits, especially in terms of coordinating the raising and slaughtering of animals, improving the control of inputs production and reduction of the transaction costs. The main elements inhibitors, in turn, are related to the import restrictions, the culture of distrust of pork, changes in input prices, the limited supply of cuts varieties for the domestic market and the decrease in the value of price kilo animal. The research also emphasizes the importance of the interdependence from constituent elements of the chain as a determinant for the overall competitiveness of the productive system.