The implementation of organic agriculture as a revenue alternative for rural small producers in the State of the Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

This work has the objective to identify the margin of contribution of some ecological producers, based on a comparative analysis between sales in major fairs and in CEASA. The study aims to provide to these small size agricultural ventures a vision on which product is generating more margin of contribution. The data is the result of observations carried through in small rural properties of the State of the Rio Grande Do Sul, which was correlated with theoretical data. The data collection considered the characteristics and the plantation methods of each culture (lettuce, carrot, beetroot, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes and broccolis). To facilitate the understanding of the agricultural proprietor, it was used the same measure of the area to treat data from all cultures. After the realization of the analysis of the properties by means of observation, the calculations were done, such as fixed costs, variable costs, variable expenditures; it was possible to observe the margin of contribution of each product sold during the fairs and in the CEASA. The difference observed is of much relevance as it can be observed in the present paper. The results of the allocation of the margin of contribution contemplate only one cycle of production, showing that the production of tomatoes presents the highest margin of contribution and cabbage shows the worst margin of contribution. The margin of contribution found in the products sold at the free fairs is greater that of the products sold in the CEASA, providing more profitability to the property and generating a possibility of growth and continuity of  and continuity.