THE USE OF AGRICULTURAL CENSUS DATA IN THE STUDY OF THE SUGARCANE EXPANSION EFFECTS ON THE AGRARIAN STRUCTURE OF SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

The objective of this study was to understand how the expansion of the sugar-alcohol complex and the sugarcane plantations affected the agrarian structure of the State of São Paulo: land use and landowner concentration, conditions of the producer and legal status of the land, level and type of agricultural occupation and productivity. For the analysis, we use a methodology based on data from the IBGE’s Agricultural Census. It is assumed that the expansion of the sugar-alcohol complex causes concentrated effects on land ownership, followed by increased wages and labor productivity. Between 1996 and 2006, dates of the last two Censuses, there was an increase in the participation of very large agricultural establishments in the agricultural area and the land taken in lease or partnership. Large-scale establishments presented a much higher labor productivity and a higher percentage of employees than small ones. It is understood that, largely, these facts are related to the expansion of sugarcane plantations in São Paulo State.