Crescimento e estagnação do cooperativismo agrícola na região fumageira de Arapiraca, Alagoas

Abstract

This dissertation shows what actions the members of the cooperatives put into practice to implement important modifications in their way of life. This study was based on interviews with eleven (11) heads of the agricultural cooperatives of the Smoke Region of Arapiraca, Alagoas, Brazil: CAPIAL, COOPERFUMO, COOPERAL e COOPAGRESTE. Since CAPIAL implemented its social statute since 1963, developed: monetary gains, cooperated members, buying and selling in big quantity? Why can t COOPERFUMO, COOPERAL and COOPAGRESTE put into practice the idea of cooperation? The cooperative practice, as the principal way of analysis that promotes the development of the agricultural cooperatives in the smoke region, the stagnation of this cooperation identified strategies that really worked out in order to make the cooperation to be successful in CAPIAL, between 1978 and 1982, and affirmatively were detached: free and volunteer adhesions; buying and selling in big quantities; distribution of liquid excesses and partnership with the State and Federal government, and also eager members of the cooperatives that wanted to better their social and economic condition. These factors weren t present in the experience faced by COOPERFUMO and are not present in COOPERAL and COOPAGRESTE experiences either. However, these cases, are unable to discredit the agriculturists that the idea of cooperation is not the solution to their problems. That s why this study is very important, therefore, the members of the cooperatives answers considering the cooperatives more important than other things, countersign this position, its economic improvement. This way, using the maintenance criterions of Sachs, were detached: the economic (45,8%); the social (28,67%); the national politic (20,62%) and the environmental (4,89%) confirming this position. This study put the agricultural cooperation like an important instrument to the practice of the rights of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, generation by the members of the cooperatives in local, Brazilian and global circuit, also, for the permanence of the theme in academic life, like object of studying of the Social Sciences.