Abstract
The Acai, a fruit of the Acai tree (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), is one of the main foods consumed by the riverside communities in the Brazilian Amazon. In addition, it has become the main source of income of these small producers as its consumption has widely expanded since the 1990s due to the recognition of its properties as an energetic and functional food. In order to analyze the production system and the socioeconomic changes that occurred in rural communities whose economical support is from the management of the Acai tree, a case study was carried out in two communities on the island of Mamangal, in the municipality of Igarapé-Miri, in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon. Fifty-two semistructured questionnaires were applied to the Acai farming families in these communities located in the municipality in the largest Brazilian producer of this fruit. The main transformations observed in the assessed communities, especially since the last decade, were influenced by the access to electric energy and the expansion of income from the Acai that made possible the expansion of the acquisition of durable consumer goods that even contributed to diversifying the diet of those farmers. Some of the difficulties faced by Acai production are the lack of technical assistance and rural extension services as well in addition to the strong dependence of the communities on the income generated by the Acai.
Highlights
Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is a palm native to the Amazonian estuary, with a prominence among the several vegetal biological resources due to its abundance and for being an important source of food for local populations (Rebello, 1992; Nogueira & Homma, 1998)
The antioxidant properties of anthocyanin, which is capable of preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases, among others (Schauss et al, 2006; Udani et al, 2011) and its use by the industry of cosmetics that started to use its benefits to launch several products such as anti-aging creams and wide bath line from the Acai oil, has intensified the interest of small producers in increasing the production of the fruit
The average income of these producers achieved with the commercialization of Acai is around R$ 1,245.76 per month in the harvest period, which in comparison to the results found by Rodrigues et al (2017), who indicated an average income for Acai producers in the Marajó region around 339.48/month, represents a value 3.67 times higher
Summary
Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is a palm native to the Amazonian estuary, with a prominence among the several vegetal biological resources due to its abundance and for being an important source of food for local populations (Rebello, 1992; Nogueira & Homma, 1998). From the mechanical maceration of the fruit pulp a viscous liquid is produced rich in anthocyanins (ACNs), proanthocyanidins (PACs) and other flavonoids (Schauss et al, 2006, Cavalcante, 2010), widely used in the production of pulp, ice creams, sweets, jams, and juices. This “wine” (juice) is produced in small agroindustry plants for commercialization in the urban areas, being able to present three consistencies (fine, medium and coarse). This article evaluated the socioeconomic structure of the Acai producing families to verify the social, economic and environmental impacts that are occurring in the producing communities as a result of intensification in the production in the studied area and the possible risks imposed to them by it
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