Mudança institucional enquanto ator de desenvolvimento endógeno: uma análise em sistema pecuários da Bacia do Rio Ibirapuitã - RS

Abstract

The Southern Half of Rio Grande do Sul is traditionally known for its activities in the primary sector, having historically stood out for livestock production. Despite the diversity and availability of natural resources, this region faces historic difficulties in economic development, which can be seen in the reality of the cities in the Ibirapuitã River Basin. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze the institutional change in livestock systems in the Ibirapuitã River Basin and its relationship with the region's endogenous development potential. A theoretical-empirical model was proposed for the analysis of economic, organizational and behavioral institutions present in family and non-family livestock systems in the Ibirapuitã River Basin. To achieve the research objective, it was used a qualitative approach and the method of narrative study. At first, in-depth interviews were conducted with specialists from the beef cattle sector in the region, with over 25 years of experience in the field sector, to identify the institutions present in the livestock systems. Afterwards, semistructured interviews were conducted with six family producers (established in the region of Alegrete and members of the Association of Producers of Rincão do 28) and six non-family producers (established in the Municipalities of Sant'ana do Livramento, Quaraí and Rosário do Sul), to verify changes in economic, organizational and behavioral institutions, and the relationship of such changes with the region's endogenous development potential. In addition to the interviews, data collection was also done through direct observation. The collected data were analyzed using the content analysis technique. It was found that both non-family and family producers realized that the market is more competitive and demanding, having pressured producers to change their production choices, being identified changes in economic institutions that demonstrate institutional flexibility and positively impact the endogenous development potential of the region. However, with regard to the commercialization of production, there is still a lack of confidence and limited articulation of the production chain, with no institutional changes identified in this regard. With regards to organizational institutions, relevant changes in family systems were identified, with the creation of the Association of Producers of Rincão do 28 encouraged by the Maronna Foundation. With regard to behavioral institutions, the prevalence of conservative and resistant to change behavior among beef cattle producers was identified, limiting the potential for endogenous development. Notwithstanding, less conservative behaviors are arising from family succession processes, market pressure, advancement of agricultural activities and diffusion of knowledge and innovation.Finally, it was found that, although important, the institutional changes identified are still incremental, which prevents the emergence of endogenous development in the Ibirapuitã River Basin from livestock systems in the short and medium term. In this sense, it is understood that the present study has social and economic relevance as it sought to understand the reality of beef cattle and the limited development of the Southern Half of Rio Grande do Sul, identifying institutional characteristics that can be developed for the emergence of an endogenous development process.