The protagonism of indigenous organizations in the structuring of the Brazil nut production chain in the State of Roraima, Brazilian Amazon

Abstract:

Roraima is the Brazilian state with the lowest Amazon nut production. With an area smaller than other states in the Amazon region and due to the occurrence of the Brazil nut stands restricted to the south-central portion of its territory, the production of this nut in Roraima appears small in official statistics. However, official data ignore the nuts uncontrolled sold to other regions and disregards the economic, social, and historical-cultural importance that this product may have for the hundreds of families living on Brazil nut production in the state. According to a mapping of the Brazil nut production chain in Roraima, it was possible to construct a picture about the situation of its production and marketing in 2013 and 2014, when an articulation was formed in favor of the structuring of this chain in the state, especially regarding the indigenous peoples Wai Wai and Yanomami production. Although the Wai Wai people traded the nut for a longer time, with more support organizations and a more structured chain, both they and the Yanomami had most of this support directed to the nut production. This explains the fact that commercialization has proved to be the weakest link with the highest investment demand. Thus, given the productive potential of the Indigenous Lands and the greater appreciation of the activity and the product itself, the lack of planning for collection and collective sale, as well as the need for investments in outflow and processing infrastructure, are important bottlenecks to the organization of indigenous peoples around Brazil nut production chain in the state of Roraima.

Keywords:
Bertholletia excelsa ; Wai Wai; Yanomami; indigenous organizations