Is a Geographical Certification a Promising Production and Commercialization Strategy for Smallholder Sheep Farming in Ceará, Brazil?

Authors

  • Sarah Schneider University of Hohenheim
  • Marianna Siegmund-Schultze University of Hohenheim
  • Evandro V. Holanda Júnior Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos
  • Francisco S. F. Alves Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos
  • Anne Valle Zárate University of Hohenheim

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2012.022.013

Keywords:

Brazil, Farming Systems, Food Value Chain, Geographical Indication (GI), Sheep

Abstract

Producing a local sheep meat product under a geographical certification label may enhance market competitiveness of smallholder farmers. This study focused on sheep farms in Ceará (Northeast Brazil); we explored their potential for adopting such a strategy, described the production chain of the salted, dried sheep meat product, and evaluated its potential certification. The study built on an existing unpublished dataset about the socio-economic conditions, production techniques, and commercialization characteristics of 129 sheep producers in the Tauá municipality. Multiple correspondence analysis followed by a nonhierarchical cluster analysis resulted in five farm clusters. In-depth interviews about socio-economic and production characteristics were conducted with a subsample of 23 farmers. The production chain was evaluated by applying methodological and data triangulation. The dried mutton product showed potential for geographical certification. However, essential preconditions for establishing a successful and sustainable geographic certification system were currently lacking.

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Author Biographies

Sarah Schneider, University of Hohenheim

Institute of Animal Production in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim (480a); Garbenstrasse 17; 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.

Marianna Siegmund-Schultze, University of Hohenheim

Institute of Animal Production in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim (480a); Garbenstrasse 17; 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.

Evandro V. Holanda Júnior, Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos

Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos, Caixa Postal 145, 62011-970 Sobral-CE, Brazil.

Francisco S. F. Alves, Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos

Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos, Caixa Postal 145, 62011-970 Sobral-CE, Brazil.

Anne Valle Zárate, University of Hohenheim

Institute of Animal Production in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim (480a); Garbenstrasse 17; 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.

Published

2012-03-21

How to Cite

Schneider, S., Siegmund-Schultze, M., Holanda Júnior, E. V., Alves, F. S. F., & Zárate, A. V. (2012). Is a Geographical Certification a Promising Production and Commercialization Strategy for Smallholder Sheep Farming in Ceará, Brazil?. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 2(2), 107–127. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2012.022.013