HINTERLAND OF STABLES

: productive configurations of cattle breeding and the agrifood activities of curd cheese in the Territory of the Dairy Basin/Alagoas, Brazil

Abstract

The expansion of cattle ranching in the semi-arid region of Alagoas occurred together with the constitution of latifundium. However, processes of buying and selling of land between small and large owners, as well as land restructuring reflected in the creation of rural settlements, also enabled the formation of agricultural establishments maintained by small cattle ranchers. In view of this, this article aims to analyze the dynamics of livestock farming and the agrifood production of curd cheese carried out by family farmers in the Territory of the Dairy Basin - TDB, semi-arid region of Alagoas. The methodology is based on bibliographic research, documental and statistical analysis of the land and agricultural structure of the territory, and field research with 50 family farmers. The field research is based on the snowball technique and on the application of semi-structured interviews. The results show that the emergence of small cattle herders and agrarian reform settlers enabled the incorporation of cattle-raising practices by family agriculture, which concomitantly performs the activities of dairy cattle breeding and the production and commercialization of curd cheese.