Impactos do programa de crédito por equivalência-produto no sistema de produção de leite: um estudo no Oeste do Paraná - Brasil

Abstract

This research sought to evaluate the "Panela Cheia" program which is based on credit by equivalence-product. This type ofcredit transforms the debt into current money by quantity ofproduct-reference. The program was implemented in 1992 in the state ofParaná and had as its main objective to develop the small producers. It is assumed that the program has modified the production system. The objective ofthe research was to evaluate the impacts ofthe 'Tanela Cheia" program in the milk production system. The theoretical referential considers the evaluation, the rural credit and the credit by equivalence-product. The region ofstudy was the municipality ofMarechal Cândido Rondon, in the west region ofParaná. Structured and semi structured questionnaires were used to collect data. A statistical analysis was done based on quantitative data (structured questionnaires), comparing the "before" and "afler" information of the program. The qualitative data (semi structured questionnaires) provided information for a content analysis about themes such asthe implementation ofthe program, the relationship between technicians and producers and the difficulties in paying the loan. In the implementation phase of the program, the lack ofcriteria for the loan distribution, personnel defficiency and technical structure compromised the work of the team in charge. Even so, the Hotelling's analysis confirmed that the program, in large part, resulted in positive impacts. With the stratification of the data, it was confirmed that 5% ofthe producers had negative impact and around 15% stayed stabilized. Through the characteristics ofthe production system, the grouping analysis separated the producers in three groups showing a heterogeneity among them, which was not predicted at the time ofimplementation ofthe program.The lack ofknowledge ofthe reality ofmilk production by the technicians resulted in poorly dimmensioned projects, non inclusion ofthe rural producer's wife in the training courses and no perception in the changes in time and work spent in the milk activity after the program. This lack of knowledge of the technicians is a result of their professional formation and deficiencies in the team structure. Asto the loan payment, there were differences (among regions) in the average price ofthe milk, compromising some ofthe producers who had their debt corrected by this product. The corn price stayed stable. Most ofthe producers (65%) affirmed they had difficulties in paying offthe loan. In general terms, the 'Tanela Cheia" program reflected positively in approximately 80% ofthe production systems analyzed. In future programs the problems detected by this research must be avoided. The credit by equivalenceproduct is an alternative for the rural producer, but it needs some adjustments. The continuous evaluation, for example, is important and should beincluded in next programs.