A participação da agricultura familiar no PIB do Ceará[The participation of family farming in Ceará's GDP]

From the study "Family Farming in the Economy: Brazil and Rio Grande do Sul" published in 2005 by NEAD - Nucleus of Agrarian Studies and Rural Development Ministry of Agrarian Development, the perception of the importance of family agriculture in the economy has gained special dimension, which showed that the average share of it in the Brazilian economy reached almost 10%. With the creation of Secretariat of Agricultural Development in 2007, the Government of Ceará State comes to recognize the family farm as a strategic sector for sustainable development of its economy, considering the importance of the social relations of production in rural areas. It is worth mentioning that the concept is established around the term "family farm" is not necessarily associated with the "small production " and "low income agriculture ", so as not condemn the family to stagnation and underdevelopment. Sensitive to this fact, Agropolis Institute of Ceará, in partnership with the Bank of Northeast Brazil, even commissioned the study to the Foundation Studies and Economic Research - FIPE, to define and quantify the productive chains of family farming in Ceará. The study "The Participation of Family Farming in Ceará's GDP, " presented here considered the same methodology, also for FIPE in 2005. Under the guidance of Professors Joaquim Jose Martins and Carlos Roberto Azzoni Guilhoto, affiliated to the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy University of São Paulo, known for its specialized structural analysis of national and regional economy, this document becomes an important reference tool for continuous monitoring of short production chains related to rural Ceará. We seek, therefore, increase dialogue and strengthen relations between government agencies, universities, research centers and organizations linked to rural development, to improve public policies directed to the sector.