Resex Verde Para Semper communities organize to boost açaí production

The communities of the largest extractive reserve in Brazil, located in Porto de Moz, Pará, are currently in the process of organizing themselves to structure the açaí production chain. This initiative is an integral part of the Interelos Socioeconomics Program at Resex Verde Para Semper.

The Resex stands out for its diversity of ecosystems, which includes areas of dense forest, transition areas and floodplains, made up of flooded fields. With approximately 2.235 families and a total population estimated between 10 to 11 thousand people (Brazil, 2020), communities face challenges and seek to diversify economic activities, ranging from legal logging, fishing, fruit and nut cultivation, agriculture to raising animals such as buffaloes and pigs. However, to drive regional development in a sustainable way, it is important to establish a more solid and integrated value chain.

In the Resex transition area there is an abundance of native açaí groves, however, despite the açaí pulp being widely consumed in the municipality, one of the issues faced is the origin of the açaí sold in Porto de Moz. Often coming from distant municipalities such as Breves and Gurupá, transport can take up to two days to reach the region. Açaí from Resex is fresher and locally produced, however, the lack of an established production chain makes it difficult for the local market to be supplied, generating work and income in the municipality.

Organizing this production chain has been an ongoing mission of Interlocks, with the support of the Sustainable Development Committee (CDS), which since 2021 has been dedicated to establishing a solid relationship with local communities for the development of production chains.

Last month, our consultants were in the territory for a strategic planning meeting with the açaí protocol management committee, formed after the PNDC, the Business and Community Development Protocol, a crucial tool for establishing consensus and agreements that will define the basis for the structuring of the production chain.

This recently formed committee, made up of representatives from each community and young leaders, plays a key role in planning and implementing the necessary actions, including commercialization strategies and market analysis. The group has been working on mapping and inventorying açaí groves, using applications such as Avenza to delimit the areas and ManejaTech from the Embrapa to guide management and interventions in açaí groves. 

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In addition, Good Practices courses for minimal impact management of açaí groves are being offered in the six communities involved, with the aim of holding one course per community by the end of June. A training session on cooperativism is also planned to strengthen the organization and marketing of açaí, aiming at the professionalization necessary to meet market demands in terms of quality and standardization.

^{The açaí producer, Seu Zeca da Luz, and Mariana Chaubet}

Although many producers are predominantly dedicated to other agricultural activities, there is a growing movement to integrate açaí management as a complementary or main source of income. Mariana Chaubet, a consultant at Interelos, expressed her satisfaction with the participants’ level of engagement:

Prepared to face the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities in the açaí market, communities in Resex Verde para Sempre are ready to promote the local economy and strengthen the sustainability of extractive communities. With a collective commitment, they are prepared to make açaí a source of income and cultural expression.