Reflections on dairy production in the western region of Santa Catarina: cooperative impacts for Regional Development

Abstract

This article reflects on the historical evolution of dairy production in Western of Santa Catarina in recent decades. The focus of this work lies on different influences over the configuration of this productive sector, including cooperativism and its nuances. To support the discussion, we interviewed seven experts and investigated how occurred insertion and changes in dairy farming over the years and how it has contributed to regional development. The analysis shows that, given the demand for expertise and high investment in new production technologies in poultry and swine production, which would be potential exclusion criteria for less capitalized farmers, the dairy farming has enabled many of these to remain in the countryside. On the one hand, institutional, legal and market factors have been pushing on poultry and swine producers and dairy farmers for production technology changes. On the other hand, this also influences on the strategies of dairy farmers for maintaining their activities, counting with the support of associations and cooperatives oriented to the development of the region.