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Abstract
This paper presents the main results of the socio-economic assessment of
small farmers involved with tobacco crops and other cash crops in the Vale do Rio Pardo
region, in Rio Grande do Sul state, in Brazil. The study aims to provide evidences for
the implementation of effective crop substitution and diversification programs in tobacco
producing countries/regions. A questionnaire survey involved a sample of 299 small family
farms in the Vale do Rio Pardo region. The sample was designed to include both small farmers who are fully or partially dedicated to tobacco production and farmers who are mainly dedicated to other
agricultural products instead of tobacco. The study shows that, in the Vale do Rio Pardo region, tobacco farming
activities account for about 60% of the gross value of the production in agriculture. However, the comparative
analysis of the profitability of tobacco crops and other cash crops in this region shows that alternative crops might
offer lower gross income than tobacco, but offer a higher net income, because their production costs are lower.