Effects of technical assistance on Goias’ agricultural productivity

Abstract

The Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (Ater) is one of the main public policies in the Brazilian agricultural sector, alongside rural credit and agricultural research. This study analyzes the effects of Ater on the production of Goias. Using cross-section data from the Agricultural Census (IBGE, 2017), relationships between the technical guidance and the municipal productivity of some selected products were identified, in which the statistical analysis identified a positive effect of technical guidance on maize productivity, soybean, and ox density per area. The own technical assistance, which includes the private, has greater weight in this context; however, the government participation was relevant, especially for family agriculture, which demands the services of Emater. This institution plays an important role in mitigating regional differences in income by providing technical guidance to farmers in the most deprived areas. The positive relationship between the offer of technical guidance and the income of some products reveals the effect of the Ater institutions, public and private, on the generation of employment and income in the state of Goias. In addition, increased agricultural production directly influences food security and mitigation of damages to the environment, after all, it ends up requiring a smaller area to be occupied by economic activities. It is important to note that Ater’s public institution is dispersed throughout the Goias territory. However, it especially fills the spaces with less self-directed presence and private organizations, which are guided by market interests.