POULTRY IN THE METROPOLITAN REGION OF FORTALEZA: PRODUCTION, AGENTS AND SOCIO-SPATIAL DYNAMICS

Abstract

The economy of metropolitan region of Fortaleza (MRF) is especially associated with the tertiary sector. Despite this, agriculture is present in all its municipalities, with intensive poultry farming as a highlight. The purpose of this article is to show the main characteristics of poultry, particularly its agents and socio-spatial dynamics. Some hypotheses guided the development of this research: a) poultry in the region has important specificities; b) poultry companies spread over several metropolitan municipalities territory; c) economic concentration and corporation set up are ongoing processes in the poultry sector; d) poultry features not only as an agent of production of agricultural space, but also urban-regional space in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza; e) Fortaleza is the core for poultry management in Ceará. The methodology consisted of qualitative and quantitative research. Among the conclusions, the following could be mentioned: the metropolitan region of Fortaleza is the main poultry production area in Ceará, causing a process of productive specialization of space on the east of Fortaleza; poultry takes place without undergoing the integration system of meatpackers; it also performs in both circuits of urban economy. Thus, poultry is regarded as essential to understand Fortaleza’s political economy and urbanization of its metropolitan region.