A UTILIZAÇÃO DE SEMENTES CRIOULAS POR AGRICULTORES FAMILIARES NO MUNICÍPIO DE BRASIL NOVO, PARÁ.

Abstract

Seeds of creole, traditional, native or local varieties are those that have not undergone genetic modification through techniques carried out in the process of genetic improvement. The objective of this study was to survey the use of creole seeds by family farmers in the municipality of Brasil Novo in the state of Pará. The research was carried out on the vicinal 16 and vicinal 12, where family farmers live, who are linked to the historical process of occupation of the municipality. Initially, contact was made with key informants, who indicated members of the community to participate in the research. The criteria for selecting research participants are: residing in the community, being family farmers, developing agricultural activities. Of the 16 families that participated in the study, 37.5% have a tradition of saving seeds and 62.5% do not have a tradition of saving seeds for future crops, mainly families that invest in the production of perennial crops such as cocoa.. Among the families that store seeds, eight species belonging to the families Cucurbitaceae, Poaceae, Solanaceae and the Fabaceae family, which stood out with the highest number of species, were identified. The species that were most cited by the families are beans and cowpea, which are highly appreciated in the studied communities. Among the families that preserve the tradition of saving seeds, a diversity of knowledge about the cultivation and conservation of these seeds was identified. However, it is necessary to broaden this discussion with associations, cooperatives, unions and technical assistance, in order to preserve this traditional knowledge of family farmers.

Key words: Family farmers, seeds, tradition, community