ASPECTOS HISTÓRICO E SOCIOECONÔMICA DA PECUÁRIA LEITEIRA NO BRASIL E NO ACRE: UM ESTUDO QUALITATIVO

Abstract

Dairy farming is one of the most important sectors of Brazilian agribusiness, playing a significant role in income generation, employment, and the strengthening of family farming. However, considerable regional disparities remain, particularly in the state of Acre, where milk production and productivity are substantially lower than regional and national averages. This study aimed to analyze the historical and socioeconomic aspects of dairy farming in Brazil, with emphasis on the state of Acre, in order to understand its historical development, economic importance, challenges, and development prospects. The research was conducted as a qualitative and descriptive narrative literature review based on scientific articles, books, technical reports, and official data from institutions such as IBGE, Embrapa, MAPA, and CNA. The findings indicate that the Brazilian dairy sector has undergone significant changes over recent decades, driven by technological advances, productivity gains, professionalization, and changes in the geographical distribution of production. In contrast, dairy farming in Acre remains predominantly characterized by small and medium-sized farms, with limitations related to low technological adoption, insufficient technical assistance, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to rural credit, and reduced production efficiency. It is concluded that strengthening the dairy sector in Acre requires coordinated public policies, expansion of technical assistance services, technological innovation, genetic improvement programs, and actions aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the regional dairy production chain.