Análise econômica da produção da amêndoa de cumaru e caracterização do seu mercado em Santarém e Alenquer, Pará

Abstract

The extraction and commercialization of non-timber forest products, such as the cumaru almond, contribute as a source of income for many families in the northern region of Brazil, especially in the state of Para, but further studies are needed to prove whether the market is favorable for this kind of investment in this product and if it is economically feasible to extract it for some type of production system. Thus, the objective of this work was to economically evaluate the production of cumaru almond in agroforestry systems (AFSs) and its commercialization in the municipality of Alenquer and Santarem in Para State. The characterization of the commercialization was collected based on information from interviews of market agents and consumers. While the economic analysis of the two AFSs of cumaru in consortium with the cassava was based on economic criteria of forest projects, from a cash flow with the costs and revenues for two horizons of planning (10 and 20 years), where the greater economic return was considered the best. Furthermore, the sensitivity was examined in order to verify the influence of prices of labor, of the kilo of the almond, the kilo of cassava flour and the rate of interest on the present net value (NPL). It was found that marketing of cumaru almond has been done for many years in this region, which has been mainly practiced by men, predominating an average age over thirty- five years old, low and high education, employing up to 10 employees per establishment. The quality was the great hindrance to buy it, although it was often sold by fairground and retailers. The main cited destinations were Santarem, Belem, Sao Paulo, Japan, the U.S. and European countries. Among consumers the female gender prevailed, with age over 50, complete high school education, low income and residence in an urban area, opting for almonds in natura to cure illnesses and willing to pay more for it, if harvested in a sustainable manner. The analyzed AFSs are economically viable and remunerated the value of family labor daily. The cost with the activities of benefit was the highest. The presence of cassava recipe has collaborated with the positive net revenue, reducing the cost of system implantation. After the output of the cassava, the extraction of cumaru almond provided great economic returns. The AFS A with smaller spacing showed to be more attractive with equivalent periodic benefit of R$ 4557.91.ha -1 in the course of 20 years. The NPL was more sensitive to variations in the price of flour and almond. Such results indicate that the commercialization of cumaru almond contributes as a source of income to the traders and its use has the consumers' preference. Thus, the AFSs are a form of profitable production to the producer in the Para State to extract this product, and the government incentive is important, in order to boost trade and the sustainable extraction of this product and consequently develop the economy of the region.