The shortening process of a rice supply chain: motivators and implications

Abstract

This study deals with the shortening process of a rice production chain, involving the beneficiation industry and the producers of the municipality of Lagoa da Confusão, in Tocantins. The study sought to understand and explain what motivated the shortening process observed in this municipality. The research is qualitative, exploratory and descriptive. Data collection was done through a semi-structured interview, with the actors of the production chain (producers, agroindustry, suppliers of inputs and machines, and municipality). Some characteristics contributed to the decision of shortening the chain such as: favorable climatic and soil conditions for irrigated rice production, associated to reduction of logistic and production cost. The producers benefited from the guarantee of sale of their products at harvest; improvement in grain classification reflected in financial gains; minimization of perishability and poor quality caused by transportation; reduction of drying and storage costs; investment in state-of-the-art technology. It can be inferred the gain in economic and social aspects for the municipality, increase of the collection; growth in trade numbers; supply of labor in the private sector; considerable increase of the population and the region becoming a reference in the cultivation of irrigated rice.