O bordão do pobre: um estudo sobre o gado como estrategia economica para uma população minifundiaria no Rio Grande do Sul

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

1976

RESUMO

The satisfaction of natural and cultural needs af any human group leads to the development of stratetegic actions, in which the potentialities of the actors and the global environment are combined in such a way so as to offer an equilibrium, even though relative, betwen them and the needs of the actors. This study investigates up to what extent cattle can be considered as an economic strategy for small land owners in the country of Rio Pardo, State of Rio Grande do Sul. Because in the anthropological bibliography studies on cattle basically refer to it in the latifundium context and in the so called primitive society, this study also presents a cattle ethnography in the minifundium context here under consideration. Field research was developed from June 1974 to August 1975. Data were gathered through interviews and participating and non-participanting observation. Also, data (not published) obtained in another research performed by the author in the same area, 1972, were used. Keeping in mind that the composition of cattle, its utilization and meaning present relevant peculiarities directly related to the dominating aims for which the households recognize that they own cattle for the purpose of gathering and analizing data from the stand point of these aims, they were classified in three categories: savings and investment, dairy production and bovine traction. Because of certain details the last one was divided in to three sub-categories The study shows that a lot of what happens in the environment in question finds similarity in other environments of small land owners, peasants, small farmers, owners of minifundiuns or any other name given to small rural producers who basically produce for their subsistence. This similarity is explained by the structural peculiarities of the environmente of these small producers. The conclusion is that catlle is an economic strategy for the small land owners here considerad because: a. Not requiring greater attention allows the households to dedicate most of their time to other activities related to subsistence. b. Maintenance is cheap and the expense compensates. c. The riskis of loss are diminished. d. While most of the production destined to the market by the small farmers has its price debased by those who control the market, the price of cattle is supported by political and eoonomic leaders. e. There is a vast market for it. f. It is a secure and profitable form of saving and investiment. g. It is the chief instrument and credential to obtain credit. h. The availability of bovine traction opens greater possibilities of work and remuneration. i. There is a reasonable market for milk. j. It is an importante instrument for independent work which is wished by a great part of the population. 1. It is an outsdanding factor of economic and social security. m. It is an instrument necessary for land purchase. This study demonstrates that the option for cattle, among other alternatives, is a pracedure of economic racionality

ASSUNTO(S)

gado - rio pardo (rs) - aspectos economicos

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

Documentos Relacionados