Coconut production performance in the municipality of Sousa-Paraíba: Trends and indicators from 2003 to 2022

Abstract

The coconut is a crop of economic importance, possessing diverse functionalities due to the numerous products generated. The Paraíba Semi-Arid region, particularly the municipality of Sousa, is growing in coconut production. In this context, this research aimed to evaluate the productive dynamics of coconut in Sousa, Paraíba, seeking to understand the factors that interact in this productive chain and subsidize public policies for the continuous strengthening of the fruit in the region. The data for this study were obtained from the information bank of the Municipal Agricultural Research of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). For this purpose, data on coconut production in Sousa from 2003–2022 were extracted, using the Automatic Recovery System (SIDRA). Five variables related to coconut production were evaluated: area intended for harvesting in hectares, area harvested in hectares, quantity produced in tons of coconut, productivity in kilograms of coconut per hectare (kg/ha), and production value (in thousands of R$). The analysis of coconut production in Sousa revealed significant variations in several aspects over the years. From 2015 onwards, there was a significant reduction in both the area intended for harvesting and the area effectively harvested. Despite these challenges, coconut production showed periods of high productivity, notably in the years 2003, 2011, and 2013. The analyzed data highlight the need to adopt effective strategies to boost production, such as the introduction of more productive varieties and the implementation of more efficient management practices.