Income composition by family farmers and the importance of agroforestry systems: case study in Belterra, Pará, Brazil

Abstract

The Agroforestry System (SAF) is a way to diversify production by using various activities and crops in the same area, involving agricultural crops, forest essences and, in some cases, involving livestock activities. Economic analysis of projects is a detailed activity that requires preparing income and expense spreadsheets for all activities by monitoring the productivity of each component of the system. This study aimed to carry out an economic evaluation of two agroforestry systems and to assess their financial importance for producers. The study was carried out in two agroforestry systems located in the municipality of Belterra-PA in the years 2015 to 2017. The data collection from the producers was based on interviews, with the application of a questionnaire. In SAF 1, it was found that 96% of the income comes from black pepper, equivalent to a total of R $ 50,135.46. SAF 2 follows the same profitability trend as SAF 1, with black pepper being the crop that economically boosted this system, with grain production, corresponding to R $ 29,744.00 (66% of SAF 2's total income). The highest costs in SAFs 1 and 2 were attributed to the acquisition of inputs (NPK, chicken manure, cattle manure and various irrigation materials) for the cultivation of black pepper. The use of labor, with preparation of the area and cultural treatments, was intense in both properties, corresponding to more than 60% of the total total costs in the two SAFs. The financial income from activities carried out in addition to the cultivation and maintenance of SAFs 1 and 2 diversify and complement the remuneration of producers. SAFs 1 and 2 are extremely important for the producers evaluated, since they generate income and contribute to food security and subsistence for families. The monthly follow-up, for the application of an income monitoring questionnaire, proved to be viable to obtain reliable data in view of the strengthening of confidence and attention to the activities performed.