Organização espacial da Bacia Leiteira no Semiárido de Alagoas

Abstract

The research investigates the spatial organization of the Leiteira Basin in the Semi - arid of Alagoas, initially addressing the socio - spatial formation and current socioeconomic situation of the 18 municipalities that are part of the region. In sequence, the combination of factors associated to the regional specialization of the milk sector in the semi-arid region is analyzed. Thus, the study highlights the investments in means of transport, in water works and in the electric supply that structured the sector regionally. Finally, the paper discusses the accumulation of capital in the development of Alagoas dairy agroindustry and the organization of the two economic circuits in this activity, highlighting the expansion of the sector associated with the technical stages of the economy, until reaching its current condition. In order to develop these objectives, the dissertation is based on conceptions that converge to historical and dialectical materialism, under the conceptual and methodological conceptual of geographical combinations (CHOLLEY, 1964a and 1964b), socio-spatial formation (SANTOS, 1977a, 2008a), two circuits Of the urban economy (SANTOS, 1977b; 2008b), primitive accumulation (MARX, 1982) and basic dualities of the Brazilian economy (RANGEL, 1981; 2005). The specialization of the milk agroindustry in the semi-arid region was determined by the sugarcane oligarchy, which from the Colonial Period appropriated the productive masses of the present alagoan soils to develop sugar cane cultivation in the monopolized lands. The conditions of the environmental resources of the Alagoan Semiarid and, mainly, the combination of factors incorporated allowed to develop the dairy chain regionally. Among the investments made in the sector are the importation and genetic improvement of dairy herds, the introduction and productive development of forage palm, the incorporation of industrial technologies, investments in water, electricity and road infrastructure. The growth of the urban population in Alagoas and neighboring states stimulated the industrialization of the Alagoas dairy sector, starting in the 1940, allowing the agribusiness of milk to expand its production spatially, until it became the second largest agroindustrial activity in the state, losing only to the Sugar and alcohol industry. However, even occupying this prominent position, the socioeconomic backwardness is still enormous in the 18 municipalities of the Leiteira Basin, since feudal and backward capitalist relations are still maintained by the sugarcane and cattle oligarchies, which continue to maintain the low development of the productive forces in the region. Consequently, dairy and dairy production continues to incorporate a relatively small number of employees with a formal contract, and most of the workers involved in this activity are small-scale dairy producers and dairy farmers with artisanal technologies, which are still in the process of capital accumulation and integration with the capitalist market.