PERFIL E GESTAO DE AGROINDUSTRIAS NO SEMIARIDO SERGIPANO

Agro-industries seem as an alternative to development to Sergipe semi-arid region that has to cope with the social and economicdifficulties of local population and the climatic adversities as well. This study has the objective to identify the profile, managementpractices and the environmental management of agro-industries in Sergipe semi-arid region. Its data were collected both fromsecondary and primary sources such as structured personal interviews accomplished together with business owners and managers.From the universe of agro-industries of that region, a sample of forty-eight industries was selected, adopting non-proportional andnon-probabilistic sampling criteria. As the main results of the study, it can be highlighted that the majority of these industries wereof micro and small size and most were recently created, with predominance of manioc and diary products. In relation to managementpractices it was observed that there is no sanitary control of production, employment of temporary manpower in the harvest time,low sales competitiveness, and no costs control efficiently. Regarding the environmental management it was observed a low level ofawareness related to the adoption of management practices that could guarantee a business sustained growth.