Seaf reaches an audience of over 2,500 at family agriculture and traditional communities events
The success of the program secured an invitation for the organization of an International Forum at COP 31 in Turkey
With direct involvement in 38 events, the State Secretariat for Family Agriculture (Seaf) ensured the prominence of family agriculture and traditional communities from Pará in the discussions of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 30) in Belém. Over 15 days of programming, Seaf's activities reached a direct audience of more than 2,500 people in activities focused on relevant themes such as socio-bioeconomics, rural technical assistance, credit for small producers, restoration of degraded areas, forest conservation, and other topics.
Among Seaf's events at COP 30, the International Forum on Family Agriculture had participation from 14 countries, 80 panelists, and packed auditoriums, with extractivists from the field and forest coming in caravans from all over the state to participate in discussions about the effects of climate transition on agriculture. Farmers had access to information and clarified doubts about the support programs and projects developed by the Government of Pará, which has committed to restoration and environmental preservation.
“We had the opportunity to speak to the world, with ministers, with people from Brazil, from around the world, a unique opportunity for us,” said the director of the Federation of Family Agriculture (Fetraf) Noemi de Oliveira Gonçalves about the participation of rural communities in the program. “We are bringing the commitments they made with us, right?” she added.
The Exhibition of Products from Family Agriculture and Traditional Communities brought dozens of products to the conference program, such as flours, sweets, handicrafts, cosmetics, oils, natural medicines, juices, pulps, chocolates, herbs, and other elements cultivated responsibly, generating income and caring for the forest. In total, sales at 10 booths reached over R$ 100,000 during the 15 days of the exhibition, in addition to the promotion and agreements for future sales to interested parties from Brazil and around the world.
The expectation of the exhibitors is summed up in a phrase by farmer Odinéia da Silva from São Domingos do Capim: “The desire here is to grow, take large orders, conquer the world, fly!”
In addition to participation in activities, Family Agriculture secured 30% of the products purchased for food at COP 30. “Açaí, cocoa, cassava flour, vegetables, maniçoba. It was a success,” evaluates the head of Seaf, Cássio Pereira, who emphasizes that the positive result is a consequence of the integration of state government agencies and partnerships with the federal government and national and international institutions and organizations.
“We conclude this COP 30 with the feeling that family agriculture and traditional communities from Pará, from the Amazon, from the entire global south, are beginning to gain recognition and an expectation that this recognition will turn into investments,” concluded Cássio Pereira about Seaf's participation in COP 30.
