BRONZEADO, E. S.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/9278193075145782; BRONZEADO, Ewerton de Souza.
Abstract:
Spondias tuberosa Arruda is a plant native and endemic to Brazil, present mainly in the
Caatinga Biome, where it is found in natural populations in the Brazilian semiarid region.
Due to its great economic, social and ecological importance, it is a fundamental culture
for the sustainable rural development of thousands of communities scattered in the
Brazilian semi-arid region. Given this context, the objective of this work is to highlight
the socioeconomic aspects of the culture of umbú (S. tuberosa Arruda), in the two main
producing municipalities in the state of Paraíba: Olivedos and São Vicente do Seridó. To
obtain this information, field visits were carried out and semi-structured interviews were
applied with extractive family farmers, where all respondents signed the free and
informed consent form. Informal conversations were also held with some intermediaries
and agro-industrial entrepreneurs. In the municipality of Olivedos, 52 farmers were
interviewed, 25 men (48.08%) and 27 women (51.92%). The age group of 40-49 years
predominated, with 26.92% and a representative portion of the interviewees (42.30%),
have only incomplete primary education and only 4 (7.69%) declared themselves to
belong to the group ethnic quilombola. The average income from the production and sale
of umbú predominates in the range below 1 minimum wage (65.38%). The umbú harvest
period in this municipality is concentrated between the months of February, March and
April. Rural properties had an average size of 15.58 hectares, with an average of 16.6
umbú plants per property. In the rural properties, 34.61% of the interviewees mentioned
having at least two people employed/contracted, to help with the handling and harvesting
of fruits, with an approximate employability of 2.28 jobs/property. In commercial
relations with intermediaries, there are no contracts for the purchase and sale of fruits.
Most production is destined for the regional market (76.92%). In the municipality of São
Vicente do Seridó, 49 farmers were interviewed, 26 men (53.06%) and 23 women
(46.94%). The age group of 50-59 years predominated, with 28.57% and a representative
portion of the interviewees (63.26%), have incomplete primary education and only 5
(10.21%) declared themselves to belong to the ethnic group indigenous. The average
income, with the production and sale of umbú, predominates in the range below 1
minimum wage (77.55%). The umbú harvest period in this municipality is concentrated
between the months of January, February and March. In the region, there are areas
destined for agrarian reform settlements and rural properties, with an average size of
19.85 hectares, with an average of 13.85 umbú plants per property. In the properties,
28.57% of the interviewees mentioned having at least three people employed/contracted,
to help with the management and harvesting of the fruits, with an approximate
employability of 2.29 jobs/property. The intermediaries determine the point of harvesting
the fruits, according to the destination and market requirements, being the main buyers of
the production (85.71%), there are also no formal purchase and sale contracts. Most of
the umbú production in the municipality of São Vicente do Seridó is destined for the
regional market (81.63%). With the completion of this work, several demands of
extractive family farmers in the umbú production chain were diagnosed, such as: specific
lines of credit for the crop, training on agroindustrial management and processing,
dissemination of new accesses and varieties of greater commercial value and industrial
use. , expanding insertion in institutional programs and markets at municipal, state and
federal level, as well as training and encouraging family farmers in beekeeping and
beekeeping activities.
