Competitiveness of melon producers in the Anastrepha grandis-Free Area in the Brazilian northeastern region

Abstract

This study aims to identify the competitiveness factors of melon producers who certify and conduct the extensive monitoring vis-à-vis those who only issue the Phytosanitary Certificate of Origin but do not monitor, in the Anastrepha grandis-Free Area, in the Brazilian Northeastern region. The factor analysis method is applied to primary data collected in the Free Zone, referring to 2014, in order to achieve this goal. The results show that the farmers who conduct the extensive monitoring are more competitive than those who do not monitor their farms.