EXPENDITURE WITH AGRICULTURAL DEFENSIVES FOR THE COTTON CROPS IN BRAZIL AND THE STATE OF SÃO PAULO. The objective of this study was to analyze the expenditure on pesticides for Brazilian cotton crops over the 1991-2002 period, and the exchange relation among prices of defensives more frequently used and the prices received by the farmers of cotton, in state of São Paulo, over the period from October 2001 to April 2003. Crop sales showed an upward trend, at constant values. Insecticides accounted for most of the quantity of defensives utilized on the cotton crop. Improvement of the purchasing power of the farmers from São Paulo was verified.
 

KEY WORDS: Pesticides, expenditure, cotton.
 

            Trabalho apresentado na 16º Reunião do Instituto Biológico - 16ºRAIB, realizada no Instituto Biológico, no período de 03 à 07 de novembro de 2003.