Adoção da agricultura de precisão na fronteira oeste do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Agribusiness management studies the profile and characteristics, of farmers on the Western Frontier of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), adept or partially adept at the technologies that are part of Precision Agriculture (PA). This is an exploratory, descriptive, opinion survey with non-probabilistic sampling, comprising 25 farmers from 5 cities in the Western Frontier of RS, comprising 113,118 ha hectares, of which 66,040 ha are adept of PA. The interviews allowed the correlation of qualitative and quantitative data, generating important information. In this sense, the profile of the properties under study has an average adhesion to PA of 75% of its area. The average size of these properties is 4,525 ha, 54% of which is owned and 46% leased. The predominant age group of PA supporters is 46 to 55 years old, representing 40% of the sample population. The predominant level of education of the adopters of the PA is Graduated, representing 52%. The main crops where PA tools are applied, in the Western Frontier of RS, are soybean (39%) and rice (26%). The average time of adoption of the PA in the Western Frontier is 5 years. The main intention of purchasing machines and equipment with PA is the Vacuum Planter representing 28% of the purchase intentions for the next 2 years.