Where is sugarcane cropping expanding in the brazilian cerrado, and why? A case study
An. acad. bras. ciênc
;
89(3,supl): 2485-2493, 2017. tab, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-886819
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Sugarcane growing area in Brazil sharply expanded between 2000 and 2010 due to the increasing world demand for sugar and ethanol. Since this expansion of sugarcane is said to occur in areas covered by degraded pastures, it is likely not threatening the environment or food production. In order to verify this assumption, we investigate at farm and field levels which types of land use sugarcane cropping replaced between 2005 and 2010 and the reasons for farmers shifting or not shifting to sugarcane, as a case study in two counties in the state of Goiás. Within the studied period, sugarcane cropping expansion was related to large farms, lower risk perceived by farmers, and higher profitability compared with soybean and beef cattle-raising. For smallholders, particularly dairy farmers, the need to comply with the set-aside rules under Brazilian Forest Code (Código Florestal Brasileiro) made a shift to sugarcane less attractive, as it would have forced them to reduce farm cultivable area, with loss of incomes. From 30,408 ha under sugarcane surveyed, 45.7% had used to be pastures, 31% had previously been pastures rotated with soybean and maize, and 23.3% had been cropped exclusively with soybean or maize.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Crops, Agricultural
/
Saccharum
/
Agriculture
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
An. acad. bras. ciênc
Journal subject:
Science
Year:
2017
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental/BR
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