Incentives to the development of fruit crops in the Rio de Janeiro State

Abstract

Fruit production in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, although relevant, has a relative smaller importance when compared to traditional products, such as sugar cane and coffee, whose moments of crisis negatively impact the entire economy. Therefore, incentives to fruit production have been adopted to improve and diversify the agricultural economy of the State. This study aimed to analyze the possible impacts of government incentives to fruit production on the agriculture of Rio de Janeiro State. By using the shift-share method, the effects on area, production and yield of fruits, as well as other crops important to the State, were evaluated. Positive impacts were observed for the production of coco, pineapple and banana, however, that did not happen to other fruits, whose production declined during the period, especially concerning citrus and passion fruit. For the whole analyzed period, there was a reduction in the area and value reached by the production system that, furthermore, became relatively more specialized.