THE CONTRIBUTION OF CREDIT COOPERATIVES TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRIBUSINESS: THE SICREDI SUDOESTE MT/PA CASE
Cooperativism; Rural Production; Rural Credit; Harvest Plan.
In 2023, Brazilian agribusiness accounted for 23.8% of the national GDP, with the State of Mato Grosso standing out in the production of cattle, soybeans, corn, and cotton. To foster the growth of this sector and ensure food security, the federal government, through the Plano Safra, annually provides financial resources aimed at rural credit, offering more favorable conditions, reduced interest rates, and extended repayment terms. Rural credit, as regulated by the Central Bank, aims to promote the sustainable development of the agricultural sector, seeking to improve the living conditions of rural populations and environmental preservation. Credit cooperatives, such as Sicredi Sudoeste MT/PA, have increased their participation in rural financing. However, despite the increase in resources allocated to rural credit, access to these resources still faces challenges, such as the lack of access to bank accounts, the bureaucracy involved in applying for credit and the inequalities in distribution among different financing lines, which vary according to the type of activity, the size of the property, the producer's income, and other factors. In this scenario, the present research proposes to evaluate the contribution of the credit cooperative Sicredi Sudoeste MT/PA to the sustainable development of agribusiness in Mato Grosso, investigating its impact on sustainable practices and on strengthening the local sector.