Modelagem comportamental pela técnica da preferência declarada aplicada aos agricultores de Santa Helena (PR)

This work analyses the behaviour of farmers as to the options of investing or not investing in buying lands, and aimed to know as farmers make their decisions on investments with use of the Technique of Declared Preference. The research based on farmers of Santa Helena (PR), proprietors of areas equal to or higher than 72 (seventy-two) hectares. Data collection was based on interviews with a sample of 40 farmers. As principal results, the most significant attributes for the model were: “purpose of the investment”; “conditions of payments” and “funds”. Therefore, the investigated group presents a tendency to accomplish their investments in owning lands due to: financial security, possibilities to pay in instalments and option of using their own funds to cover the debt.