Cooperatives rural non-equity (or virtual) and the hard way of formalities: the case of family farmers of southern state of Santa Catarina

Abstract

The farmers of southern Santa Catarina struggling to stay on the field if, on the one hand, monoculture (rice and tobacco) and integration (chicken and pork) - key activities in the region - have not provided enough income for a dignified life; second, to diversify production in properties facing problems related to the formalization of production and marketing. To address these problems, rural cooperatives were created non-property (or virtual), but after a few years in business, they face problems due to maintenance cost. The aim of this paper is to analyze the difficulties faced by these cooperatives operationalization of southern Santa Catarina. The methodology used was the case study with a qualitative approach. The information was obtained from reports of / the cooperative / and next to the boards of cooperatives, during the year 2011 and 2012. The survey results point to the importance of cooperatives in the formalization of production and marketing, providing opportunities for new sources of jobs and income to the cooperative. However, even not being cooperative property, it was found that the operating cost is considered high by / the associated / as, as each cooperative has an average of 25 cooperatives and income of each partner / a is relatively low.