Aspectos geográficos da cultura fumageira no estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil)

Resumo

The tobacco culture in Rio Grande do Sul is very ancient, two zones existing where it has great importance - the one of Santa Cruz do Sul and that of the Uruguai Valley, situated in the central - oriental part and northwest of the State, respectively. In the first one the municipalities of Santa Cruz do Sul, Sobradinho, Venâncio Aires stand out - it is the older production area. In the second one, more recent, we have as main producers - Três Passos and Santa Rosa.

            In some of the municipalities tobacco culture exceed other plants which are relegated to a second level. This is particularly seen in Santa Cruz do Sul which is the greatest producer and also for Venâncio Aires, Três Passos, Candelária, etc. We can say, in a general way that the tobacco culture is spread quite all over Rio Grande do Sul.

            In this region it is possible to distinguish two types of tobacco - the one called from stove and that said of shed. Almost 60% of the Rio Grande do Sul's production comes from tobacco of the second type. But both are destination for the cigarettes industries. The tobacco called from stoves is used only for cigarettes of superior quality.

            Particularly it is interesting to point out two facts - the culture is practiced by small peasants, in small or big properties and doesn't exist large planted extensions of this plant but small areas of one hectares and a half.

            The tobacco culture has nearly all the orientation and assistance of the companies which made the industrialization of the product. It is a highly commercial one being destination to the cigarettes industries - situated in R.G.S. or other parts of Brazil (S. Paulo, D. Federal). The "Sousa Cruz Cigarettes Company and the "Sinimbu", are the two great factories of Rio Grande do Sul.

            In the rural landscape of Rio Grande do Sul we can point out - the tobacco, the sheds and stoves, the factories - all of this showing the economic importance of the culture of the "Nicotiana tabacum".