Cadeia produtiva da erva-mate: produção, processamento, comercialização e consumo na microrregião de Dois Vizinhos - PR

Abstract

Brazilian non-timber forest products are increasing their market share due to the potential of forest management and the numerous possibilities for use and products generated. One species with great potential that is widely exploited on the world market today is mate. Currently, the export of mate is due to its leaves, which are used to manufacture products such as mate, tererê and mate tea. The yerba mate production process is based on a generally articulated production chain that links all its levels of production, market and consumption. Even so, for process improvements to occur, any intervention that has to be made needs to be based on qualitative and quantitative knowledge of its components. Thus, this study aimed to know aspects of the yerba mate production chain and to propose alternatives to its different segments in the Dois Vizinhos-Paraná microregion. The project was conducted in the seven municipalities of Dois Vizinhos and surrounding region, including Boa Esperança do Iguaçu, Cruzeiro do Iguaçu, Enéas Marques, Salto do Lontra, São Jorge D'Oeste and Verê. The study presented two phases, the first in the form of a meta-analysis of historical / socioeconomic data based on publications produced by official agencies, which were tabulated, analyzed and discussed under the focus of its application to the objectives of the present study. The second phase was based on a field data survey, in the seven municipalities mentioned, with an approach divided in a specific questionnaire, referring to each segment of the production chain (production, industrialization, commercialization and consumption). These data were coded and hierarchized, gathered by similarity, thus subjected to analysis of averages, distribution and frequency, and then compared for each segment of the production chain in the municipalities of the Dois Vizinhos-PR microregion. Based on the data obtained in this second phase, the actual situation of the microregion's production chain was known and, finally, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the yerba mate chain were determined through the SWOT analysis. The results presented oscillations during the years in the variables analyzed in the meta-analysis of the official sources. It may also observe disorganization in the segments of the production chain, as well as non-collaboration within it, leading to weaknesses in the chain. It can be concluded from this study that the mate chain production in the microregion of Dois Vizinhos-PR, has bottlenecks in all its segments, however, in the initial elements of the chain, such as nursery, producer and herb, are more negative points, which make it difficult to sell the final product in the microregion itself, indicating mainly improve technical assistance to producers, where it is evident the greatest difficulties encountered in the chain.