Diagnóstico participativo dos sistemas de manejo de açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) por uma comunidade em Muaná, Marajó-PA

Abstract

The existing communities in the upper Atuá River region stand out for their high winter production of both açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) fruit and heart-of-palm. Traditional management systems developed by communities over time have proven to be a possible alternative for ensuring the sustainability of the use of these resources (Lescure 1996). These alternatives depend on the knowledge of the community, the physical environment, and resource availability (Morán 1990). The present work aims to characterize the açaí production and management systems and how these activities are related to the daily life of an extractivist community. The field research took place from October 2000 to June 2001, and the first contact with the community was made through meetings that explained the objectives of the work. The methodology adopted was based on formal and informal conversations, structured interviews, participant observation, and a workshop to pass on information. The study was carried out in the community of Our Lady of Jaratuba in Alto Rio Atuá, municipality of Muaná, which belongs to the Marajó Region. Of the 24 families living there, 12 were interviewed, and in one the weekly work was followed. There is an association of producers with broad participation and in the community the economy is essentially focused on the extraction of açaí, mainly during the winter. The division of labor occurs among family members, characterized by a division based on gender relations. The women of the community work not only in açaí extraction but also in agriculture, fishing, and handicrafts. The açaí production in the summer is only for consumption and they work more in fishing and agriculture where they plant mainly manioc, banana and corn. During the whole winter Atuá is occupied by boats, either for transporting people to work, school, and trips, as well as for people who buy, trade, or charter their boats to transport açaí, heart-of-palm, and food products. The route for sale is Muaná, Abaetetuba or Belém, depending on where the price is better. In the community of Jaratuba, the açaizal is usually planted in an abandoned capoeira area after the cultivation of the plantation. The history of the area is of a lot of native açaizal exploitation for the cutting of hearts of palm, which has been abandoned by most people because it doesn't bring as many economic advantages and because it cuts down the whole tree, causing açaí shortage. The management system most used by the villagers is annual weeding (thinning) and the control of clumps to eliminate weeds and invading bushes. The knowledge about this activity is passed on from father to son. Regardless of the other activities that the community develops in their daily lives, it is around the açaí that their lives are involved, whether it is açaí as a food product, for sale, for exchange, superstitions, or even as a gift.