Relationships between the variability of pluviometric precipitation and agricultural production in the state of Pernambuco between 2000 and 2013

Abstract

In agricultural studies, rainfall has been considered an important and influential component in the choice of cultivation of certain agricultural crops in a region. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between rainfall variability and agricultural production in the state of Pernambuco between the years 2000 and 2013. Descriptive relationships were made between the production of the analyzed crops and the average annual level of rainfall in the state of Pernambuco, in addition, were estimated the production elasticities, production value and average yield of each crop with rainfall. The results showed that beans, maize, manioc and mango presented different degrees of dependence in relation to the average annual precipitation. Thus, in order to reduce the negative impacts that this dependence may have on the productivity of these agricultural commodities, a better planning in terms of public policies for the sector is necessary.