A cultura do melão no município de Dom Pedrito entre 2005 e 2015

Abstract

The melon cultivation is important for the domestic and foreign markets and in particular for the development of small and medium-sized properties. This work aimed to study the evolution of the melon crop in Dom Pedrito/RS, identifying the causes that led to the growth and decline of production and to discuss with potential producers improvements to reverse the current production in the municipality. For this work, in addition to literature review, interviews were conducted with eight local producers, and four remain in the activity and the other four do not grow more melon. It was also interviewed a key informant Emater / RS municipality. The interview data show that most producers began producing melon in 2005 encouraged by public and private institutions in the city. Among the identified causes that led to the growth of production were initially encouraging the production of public and private bodies of the municipality, the climatic conditions of the early planting and good soil preparation done by producers. By contrast, the causes that led to the fall in production were financial losses and difficulties in marketing that occurred at the peak of production in the municipality. Moreover, difficulties have been identified as adverse weather conditions in recent years from excessive moisture and the difficulty in disposing production due to the poor condition of roads within the municipality. In discussion of alternatives to improve the productive melon chain, producers have reported that there should be more support from local businesses, opening new markets and maintaining local roads by the government. It was found that there is a need for restructuring from an organization and planning stages of the production process melon, can be a resumption of high volume production are applied possible reversal measures.