Next Steps Are in the Government's Hands

摘要

Brazil is now the 4th-largest producer and 5th-largest exporter of cotton in the world. These numbers would be enough to show the importance of the Brazilian cotton chain, but lets' explore in greater detail what is behind these rankings. A recent study commissioned by ABRAPA, which resulted in the book, "The Brazilian Cotton Chain: Challenges and Strategies," shows that in the 2010/11 season, the total turnover of the chain was $37 billion, generating an aggregate GDP of more than $19 billion. The sector earned $7.7 million from the sale of agricultural inputs to the sale of final products. These figures show the reality of the work done by cotton farmers across the country and throughout the chain. Another important finding revealed by the research concerns the generation of jobs and income. There are 1.7 million workers who generate a total income of $787 million, resulting in an average salary of $679 per month — 130% higher than the minimum wage and higher than income from sugarcane ($660) and soybeans ($627). The number of jobs is exceeded only by the construction industry, the country's largest employer.