Tecnologia de Ponta: quem paga a conta?

Abstract

The developed work aims to promote collective reflections and notes from family farmers in
the Alto Vale do Itajaí about actions of corn seed improvement, aiming to strengthen their
autonomy. Very rare are the actions that promote a broad evaluation about the potential of
materials available for corn. On the other hand, initiatives to promote transgenic hybrids are
innumerable. The obtained results point to open-pollinated varieties (OPV’s) with a maximum
yield potential of 7.800 kg/ha (12% moisture). In Fields monitored during 2017, the costs vary
from $ 203,70 on VPA cultivation (125scs/ha) to $ 512,30 on transgenic hybrids (9.000 kg/ha).
Farmers reviews about the use of OPV’s and transgenic hybrids seem to point VPAs as better
suited for family farming. The lack of OPV’s seeds is understood to be an obstacle for a wider
use of those varieties.