Agroecology and the Struggle for Food Sovereignty ... - Yale University

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94 agroecology and the struggle for food sovereignty Sérgio Lopes. Photographer: Steve Taylor. also a member of RECA, recounted. One farmer remembers how they had “almost lost hope” because they “lost everything to the forest.” But, Lopes explained, they changed their minds about the forest and how to farm: “We learned from the forest and the people who lived here.” By observing nature and learning from local rubber tappers, the farmers developed alternative agroforestry systems. Through a system they devised on their own, today the RECA farmers grow a diversity of fruit, timber, and other useful trees, many of which are found only in the Amazon: cupaçu, pupunha, acerola, acaria-boi, andiroba, copaiba, hearts-of-palm, Brazil nut, cherry, mahogany, rubber, and palm. Marcílio Sórdi, also a coordinator for RECA, describes how they adapted to the region: “This is a very hot region, you see, and we realized that we couldn’t fell all the forest, because without shade to work under, we wouldn’t be able to bear the heat.” They planted different tree varieties together in a small area to create shade for themselves and the trees. The production was prolific, and as one farmer said, “We expect more and more in the future. We expect to grow every day.” To capitalize on RECA’s production, the project now processes, packages, and sells its products. They recognize, Sórdi says, that “to develop agriculture is to depend on other structures; you depend on education, you depend on roads.” By diversifying their product portfolio and minimizing the number of outside dependencies – for example, by owning the entire production chain and teaching themselves agricultural techniques – the farmers have improved their success rate. Yet, Bacelar explains, “Very often we lose the product; even knowing that you suffered for it, that you fought to get it, and in the end, you have to throw it away because we can’t make good use of the product.” RECA targets a market that many small-scale farmers in the South do not aim for–mainstream markets, including national and international markets. RECA is not interested in niche markets like organic. They want to compete in the big markets by “having a relationship with it,” says Lopes, while at the same time avoiding food security erosion by putting family subsistence first and not aiming to overextend their productive capacities. Organizing to overcome their struggles not only provided agricultural and intellectual strength, it changed the social condition of living in the Amazon for RECA’s members. Lopes explained that the project is flourishing because everybody participates and fulfills their responsibility to make the project work. One farmer said, “Living together has changed things. In the past we lived isolated, in the forest, alone, just family, and went away for four days every month. Today, we have our companions, so, for us here, this is the modern way of living, right?” An elderly farmer in RECA explained,“You must trust. Otherwise, you lose heart. I mean, if you don’t trust that it [will] work out in the future, you will give up. Like myself, when I first started to sow the land here, my son said, ‘Come off it Dad, why fumble around? You’re too old to see any crop.’ Thanks to God I can see the plants producing.” yale school of forestry & environmental studies
case study: living the amazonian dream 95 RECA offers hope and guidance to others in the Amazon and elsewhere that seek to change the cycle of poverty and overcome constraints of social identity and nature. “For those who want to start a project like ours, first, you need courage; second, be aware that it is difficult because it is not a question of doing and leaving it. If that happens, the project is gone,” João Pereira dos Santos advises. Concludes Lopes: “Listen folks, living in the Amazon you must not give up. The Amazon is rich and full of alternatives....Each community should look for its own way and its own solution.” Sórdi asserts, “Everything that’s been said sounds easy, but in fact it’s hard to put into practice. It must be organized. We must have guts to build up our haven in the Amazon.” RECA’s determination and courage is an inspiration that one hopes will spread – making their Amazonian haven a reason to dream. yale school of forestry & environmental studies
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Report Number 4 Agroecology and the
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Agroecology and the Struggle for Fo
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eakout session reports Food Soverei
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2 agroecology and the struggle for
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mcafee 9 Sustainability and Social
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mcafee 11 organizations or depicted
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mcafee 13 industrial agriculture, n
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mcafee 15 Producing Food or Produci
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mcafee 17 ● Major international d
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mcafee 19 Agroecology is not a mono
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mcafee 21 ● Land reform of a kind
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zimmerer 31 An Expanding Interface
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zimmerer 33 The Mesoamerican Biolog
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zimmerer 35 constellation of areas
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levins 37 A Whole-System View of Ag
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levins 39 Equity Versus Sustainabil
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levins 41 ● Small-scale to large-
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iographies of editors 161 Biographi
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participants 163 Workshop Participa
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participants 165 Jean Marc von der
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esources 167 Resources Farmer-to-Fa
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esources 169 ATTRA - www.attra.org
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esources 171 Just Food - www.justfo
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esources 173 International Institut
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cover photo captions 175 Cover Phot
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This report originated in an intern
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