Yield of Bunches of Fresh Oil Palm Fruits (Elaeis Guineenses JACQ.) Grown in Pará: Barrier to Illegal Transport

Objective: The goal of this study was to generate technical and scientific information to support the inspection of transportation of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) of oil palm in the state of Pará and to estimate the average yield curve (AYC) of FFB of varieties of oil palm cultivated in the municipalities of Pará. Theoretical framework: Theories about limited rationality and asymmetric information was applied to production and commercialization negotiations of FFB oil palm in the state of Pará. Econometric modelling and statistical tests were used to estimate the AY curve and to compare the sample averages among the business production, family farming, and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Results and conclusion: The maximum AY of FFB oil palm were estimated for the state of Pará, Brazil (16.27 ± 1.46 t/ha), and to the most productive variety, Compacta-Nigeria (23.86 ± 2.24 t/ha). It was evident that AY of FFB for the Family farmers (average 22.63 ± 3.17 t/ha) was higher than that obtained by companies (average of 17.10 ± 4.05 t/ha) and that reported by IBGE (average of 15.98 ± 1.25 t/ha). The IBGE data are not different or superior to those of companies. Research implications: The study estimated the FFB oil palm AY curve by variety cultivated in the state of Pará to enable the traceability of FFB oil palm production and transportation. It validates IBGE data as a mechanism for monitoring the transit of CFF. Originality/value: The CFF yield curve adds unprecedented scientific knowledge to support the traceability of oil palm production. The data provided by this research contributes to reduce the information asymmetry, and to improve the efficiency of chain Governance.