Cultivos promissores para a diversificação da agricultura familiar no baixo sul da Bahia

Abstract

This work aims to evaluate the technical and economic viability of high-value commercial potential crops for the agricultural diversification of production systems of family farmers in the Lower South of Bahia. Through case studies, vanilla, cinnamon, rambutan, and mangosteen crops that are already being produced in the region by farmers of Japanese origin were analyzed. In descending order, the best financial indicators were for mangosteen, rambutan, and vanilla. Cinnamon proved unviable due to low market prices. Other factors that should be considered for the analysis of the suitability of these new crops for family farming were evaluated: compatibility with the production system in Agroforestry Systems (SAFs), the necessary investment, the time required for the start of commercial production, the complexity of cultural and processing practices, access to marketing channels, market demands and risks, and the possibility of storage and value addition. It is also worth highlighting the absence and need for public policies to encourage these and other high-value commercial crops for family farming.