Dinâmica interanual(2001-2020) da cajucultura no município de Jacaraú-Paraíba

Abstract

Cashew culture is an activity of great economic importance for many areas of Northeast Brazil, especially for its potential to generate employment and income. In the state of Paraíba, the seventh largest producer of cashew nuts in Brazil, a prominent municipality in cashew farming is Jacaraú, regionally known for its production of cashew nuts. In this sense, this study aimed to analyze the productive dynamics of cashew farming in Jacaraú from 2001 to 2020, seeking to analyze the performance and factors that interact in this production chain. Data were obtained from the information bank of the Municipal Agricultural Research of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, from which five variables were extracted: harvested area - percentage of the overall total, harvested area, quantity produced, productivity and production value. Data were tabulated and later subjected to principal component analysis. The results showed cashew farming as an agricultural activity of great relevance to Jacaraú, with a strong participation in the total percentage of areas harvested with permanent crops in this municipality, however, a strong reduction in the area harvested with this culture was recorded, as well as in the amount produced. Regarding the average yield of cashew nut production, strong variability was also observed, with a maximum value of 700 kg/ha in 2001 and a minimum of 53 kg/ha in 2015, that is, a reduction of 92.4%. The results together show improvements in production variables in the last two years of the period under analysis, mainly derived from the improvement in productivity and which are a consequence of government efforts to strengthen this production chain in the municipality. However, these actions need to be continuous and focus on the introduction of more productive and precocious materials, as well as on adequate management strategies for this culture.