A methodological and global approach determines the studied areas (picture 3). It follows then that the two subject matters of the study are the development of the territory and the organization of the marketing networks. Finally, there is a related and third subject matter: the role of the local actors and their influence upon a discontinuous and changing evolutionary development process.
The first analysis of the collected information refers to the regional level so as to have an overall view of the area. In fact, this level of analysis has enabled us to show that some significant territories and specific marketing networks (involving four products: rice, cocoa, wood and cattle) played a crucial role in the evolutionary perspective of the territory and in the progress of the settlers’ trajectories. The study of these territories and network is essential.
Such analysis is based upon semi-guided interviews in order to collect information from “resourceful people”, obviously related to the following matters:
- The commercial activities,
- The transformation of the local products, now and in the past,
- The evolutionary planning process as reported by the INCRA (National Institute of Colonization and Agricultural Reform) engineers,
- The evolutionary process of the forestry scheme, according to the IBAMA (Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources).
The analysis is based upon varied sources of information:
- Available maps (cartography),
- Available bibliography issued from research institutes: the LAET (thematic surveys on local and family farming) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation - EMBRAPA (surveys on the major local agricultural products),
- Population, commerce and industry statistics,
- Discussions with former inhabitants of Altamira.
This first level of analysis is raised from results of the sub-regional analysis. Two methods were necessary to carry this study out:
- An ambitious but very useful project of interviewing the people living along the by-roads, on whom we could rely for the local level of analysis.
- Local actors’ sketches and maps of the area (a useful but insufficient database).
The information collected from “resourceful people” officially or unofficially in charge of territorial development (mayors, agricultural technicians, transporters, tradesmen, community or society leaders) subsequently completed the survey.
In theory, the analysis of the marketing networks studies the flow of products from the micro-local to the regional areas. Yet, Medicilandia’s and Altamira’s tradesmen have enabled us to understand the whole system even if they do not rely on the local studied marketing networks.
The actors, mainly tradesmen and /or farmers were interviewed or asked questions from a printed form. As regards this investigation, the first prior objective was quality since, in clearing the ground as best as possible, it revealed the actors’ implicit or explicit projects, accounting for the means at their disposal.
Ultimately then, and in the light of this methodological presentation, there are a few statements to make, in support of the above principles: To summarize, beyond the study from the regional level to the micro local level, and a study of representative products, it has been necessary to:
- Take into account the course of time during the process of description and analysis of the territorial and commercial trajectories of the actors.
- To compose printed question forms concerned about questions like: Who? Does what? Where? When? How? Why?
- To draw our attention towards “resourceful people” like the authorities officially or unofficially in charge of the control and management of the territory.
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