FACTORS OF AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION IN BRAZILIAN MUNICIPALITIES IN 2006

Abstract

This work identified the relevant aspects of agricultural modernization based
on the characteristics of 4,535 Brazilian municipalities in 2006. A Factor Analysis model
was adjusted, considering 30 variables to capture the adoption of agricultural “good
practices” and the use of modern inputs. The modernization process was synthesized in
four factors: Intensive land-use; Capitalization and technification of animal husbandry;
Technification of agriculture; and Capital-labor ratio. The results pointed to a regional
concentration of the Intensive land-use factor in the Southeast region, in the state of
Paraná and in the coastal strip of the country, of the Technification of agriculture factor in the South region and in parts of the Southeast region and of the Capital-labor
ratio factor in the Midwest and Southeast regions. The Capitalization and technification of animal husbandry, in turn, is a factor that demonstrates more uniform regional
distribution. The northeastern region is a worrying aspect in relation to modernization, since it presented weak indicators in almost all aspects identified and the public policies
adopted in the early 2000s proved insufficient to mitigate this problem.