Emater delivers the National Register of Family Agriculture to over 30 families in Senador José Porfírio
The initiative provides access to public policies and strengthens the cocoa farming production chain in the southeastern region of Pará
More than 30 families of family farmers from Polo 2 in the municipality of Senador José Porfírio, southeastern state, received, between October 22 and 23, the National Register of Family Agriculture (CAF) during a collective effort for the issuance and delivery of documents for cocoa producers in the region.
The initiative was from the Government of Pará, through the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company of the State of Pará (Emater-Pará), with the support of the Municipal Secretary of Agriculture (Semagri) of the municipality and the Institute for Forest Development and Biodiversity of the State of Pará (Ideflor-Bio).
One of the farmers benefited by the delivery of the CAF, Mateus da Silva, produces cocoa, cassava, and flour, within the Chácara Cacau de Ouro, on the Vicinal PA Ressaca, the location chosen for the collective effort. He celebrated the initiative and stated that he intends, like many producers in the region, to improve the cultivation of the fruit.
“The CAF is the first and most important document for us farmers. We are from the countryside, we depend on this and on our work done by our hands. With this document, we will be able to access benefits from the Federal Government and also financing for projects in our plantations. In my case, I want to invest in a flour house to increase my production and also in cocoa,” he said.
For him, any incentive to small farmers made by Emater is welcome, especially when it comes to rural extension, seeing the technicians from the public company arriving in remote and hard-to-reach places to bring more dignity to the rural worker.
“Before, we didn’t have people concerned about us, and when we contacted the Emater staff, I made a point of making my farm available to carry out this collective effort. Besides the CAF, we also received fertilizers and açaí seeds. It was really important for all of us. Many families still need to receive this benefit, but little by little we will be able to reach them, with the support of Emater,” he stated.
Another farmer who benefited was Raimundo Mota. He has a cocoa plantation and highlighted the importance of now, with the CAF, being recognized as a rural family farmer and having guaranteed rights. “It will help us achieve many things to improve my family's life. I want to improve my cocoa production and increase my income. We are all really grateful for this partnership with Emater,” he said.
The Head of the Local Office of Senador José Porfírio, Arino Tabosa, explained that the technicians were sought to meet the community's demand. “They approached us to issue the CAF, as many were without the document. Most work in cocoa production. Initiatives like this greatly strengthen their work because now they are officially recognized as family farmers and can access all benefits, aids, and rural credits to have more dignity, quality of life, with income generation and employment, in addition to further strengthening the cocoa farming production chain,” he concluded.
