ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF CASSAVA PRODUCTION AS PRACTICED BY BRAZILIAN QUILOMBOLA FAMILY FARMERS OF MACAPAZINHO, IN MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA ISABEL DO PARÁ

Abstract

This study evaluated the productivity of cassava obtained by family farmers in a remaining Quilombo community called Associação Comunitária dos Remanescentes de Quilombo de Macapazinho, in municipality of Santa Isabel do Pará, state of Pará, Brazil, and propose solutions to ensure the sustainability of this traditional activity. Information was collected about the age of capoeira vegetation, systems for land preparation practices and cultivation practices used by farmers, using the following parameters: selection of cassava cutting seeds, planting with defined spacing, practices for weed control, and cassava productivity. The productivity of cassava, measured in tonnes per hectare (t/ha), was estimated by sampling in four plots measuring 2 m x 10 m that were randomly selected in the plantations of each farmer. A demonstration unit about the process of Trio da Produtividade da Mandioca (something like “cassava productivity trio”) was implemented as a technological solution in a degraded area chosen by farmers. Average productivity results reached 22.94 t/ha of roots. No farmer applied technologies related to the practices of the “cassava productivity trio”. The cassava productivity of the demonstration unit proved to be economically efficient for sale of roots, with a benefit/cost ratio of 1.70, which means that for every real (R$ 1.00) invested in the system, the returns were R$ 1.70 in the sale of roots, while the sale of cassava flour had a benefit/cost ratio of 1.12.