Spatial clusters of “agriculturalization” in the rural area of some brazilian states

Abstract: At least, during the last four decades, three phenomena have been running in Brazil´s countryside: decreasing population, reducing workforce and increasing creation of non-agricultural jobs. However, these phenomena do not take place evenly throughout the country, in order that some areas are more dedicated to agriculture than others are. In this context, this work aims to propose and estimate, using the factorial analysis, an indicator to measure the intensity of agriculture (called “agriculturalization” index). It will allow to analyze its spatial distribution and potentially to find out some agricultural concentration. Initially, five Brazilian states are taken into consideration, considering their physical proximity, their agriculture similarity and their importance for Brazil’s agriculture. These states are Paraná, São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso and Goiás, considering years of 2000 and 2010. It was found out the existence of High-High cluster inside and at the boundary of the five analyzed states. And it is justified by the existence of agro-food industries and the occurrence of spillover effects.