(RE) EXISTENCE OF PINEAPPLE PRODUCERS IN MONTE ALEGRE DE MINAS (MG)

Abstract

Agricultural activities have always been the basis of the economy of the municipality of Monte Alegre de Minas. With regard to the production of pineapple the history of cultivation in the city began in the 1940s, by a natural producer of Caico (RN). Since then, production began to expand in the city. The 1980s was the peak period of production. The city was recognized nationally as the National Capital Pineapple because he had an annual output of 149 million harvested. However, in the late 1990s, this production began to decline, due to factors such as the cost of production, lack of incentives, the inclusion of sugarcane in the Triangulo Mineiro, cultivation of soybeans and corn. And with that, many farmers stopped growing the fruit, because they were getting more profit by planting other crops than with the actual cultivation of pineapple. Even with decrease in production, pineapple cultivation in Monte Alegre de Minas caused a (re) productive organization in the city. Thus, the present work aims to show the reproductive strategies of family farmers pineapple farmers facing the socio-spatial and economic transformations in the municipality of Monte Alegre de Minas (MG).