Trabalhadores Temporários para o Café: Mecanização e núcleos coloniais em São Paulo, 1895-1911

Abstract

This article analyses the concerns related to the seasonal labor as a result of the coffee farming growth along with the price decline of coffee, at the transition from XIX century to XX century. Particularly, this article debates the need of cost reduction in labor due to the challenges involved in the continuous expansion of the coffee farming at that moment. The proposal discussed in the article favored the mechanization of part of the work in the coffee agriculture in association with the contractual hiring of seasonal workers. The creation of colonial nucleus, in strategic locations, could contribute to increment this type of workforce. The analysis of this discussion demonstrates that segments of the Sao Paulo economic elite were aware that having ample availability of labor force was the only way to allow mechanization, flexibility and cost reduction at the times of intense agricultural work.