Conquer of new markets and international trend makes a typical Amazon product explode worldwide. Production has increased, but the pace of supply is less than the demand and off-season increases shortages
In recent years, açaí has become known worldwide for its energetic properties, being an “ambassador for the Amazon”, recognized as a typical product of the region. Research is underway to study the benefits of its consumption, as well as the versatility of its application, including in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. The high international demand for the product occurs at the same time that the traditional consumption by the inhabitants of the Amazon only gets bigger.
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“We live in the harvest, from August to early December, with the rainy season. When the off-season starts, some supply problems start. The export is not without açaí because the industries have giant chambers, for example. In the off-season, production is stopped, but export sales continue, as there is stock in chambers. For this reason, the industries produce in four months what will be sold throughout the year. That is why, in the regional market, it is much more expensive and the product is lacking, because production really decreases”, he points out.
Consumption of açaí helps to keep the forest upright
To Reinaldo Mesquita, from Sindfrutas, the increase in the market for açaí also ended up opening new perspectives for riverside dwellers, who are at the base of the chain. According to him, about fifteen years ago the local producer often opted to cut the açaí tree to extract the heart of palm, with market value at the time - and with less effort - than the harvest and sale of the açaí.
“The people from the riverside came to the city and realized that the effort and return with the sale of the heart of palm was more profitable. They would then prefer to cut the tree, and this is also a form of deforestation. Today, however, it is more profitable to have the tree upright, and harvest and sell the fruit. Currently, it is possible to observe the islands in our region with açaí trees, and the riverside has improved its structure, no longer leaving their home, and their island. The life of the riverside communities has improved, and this was all caused by the growth of the açaí market, both internally and externally ”, says Reinaldo.
Coordinator of the International Business Center (CIN), of the Federation of Industries of the State of Pará (Fiepa), Cassandra Lobato, highlights the importance of the development of the chain as a whole for the State, which started with the exportation only with the fruit’s juice.
“The process of adding value to the product is something that we always aim for. To open the market, we start by sending only the input of açaí. But, over the years, Pará is no longer an exporter of commodities and now, with the puree also being exported, we no longer take only the juice to be processed abroad, we send the product ready to consume”, she said.
Cassandra affirms that the objective of completing this chain has a domino effect also in the local economic development, but it is necessary to make an effort to qualify the workforce.
“For us it is wonderful, it means completing this chain. And a company that will work with the packaging, for example, not only adds value to the product abroad, but brings a complete development to the industry, because, as the final product drives the economy here, we hire more marketing professionals, and export managers”, she analyzes.
Initiatives seek to reduce the off-season problem
According to the experts heard by the report, the biggest obstacle to exports and the supply of the domestic açaí market is the off-season. The issue is economic and involves several segments of the production chain, it generates jobs and income to the coffers of the State.
The producer claims that dialogue is the solution. “What can we do as producers to help scouts? And what can batters do for producers? Because when the price is expensive, it's bad for them, but it's good for us. When it's cheap, it's good for them, but bad for us. Then the two parties could talk. Because if it's good for me and good for them, it's good for everyone. And with that, the final consumer, the big beneficiary, wins ”, he says.
In addition to the off-season and export, the producer also highlights that he has been observing a drop in production in the area of his property. According to him, even in the worst period of the year, he was able to produce daily what today is produced in a week. “For three years now I have seen my production decline. Climate change, rain, sun and deforestation. This affects us who work with native açaí, without using fertilizer. I have noticed the decrease in açaí bunches. Years ago, in that same period, I took 12 bags a day, which I take in a week this year, ”said the producer.
For him, the production of other municipalities in the field area of the state also fell, since they are meeting the export demand more than previous years. “The more distant municipalities, which previously supplied the capital of Pará, are no longer supplying because the processing factories and those that export are buying. So only açaí from the islands close to Belém does not supply the local market ”, he commented.
A worker at the port of Palha, in the Condor neighborhood, Carlos Santos, mostly known as “Bacu”, agreed that the supply of stones coming from the islands closest to Belém fell this year as never before. He has worked for more than 10 years as a “barker”, popular name of the profession of those who resell the açaí from the middleman to the açaí beater or to the factories. “Açaí is expensive. It's missing. the frozen one failed and the natural one doesn't have much. Every year there is this problem, but this year it is bigger ”, says Carlos, citing “frozen”, the name of the pulp that comes from other neighboring states, such as Amapá.
Producer Rubens Almeida, who works with açaí from Barcarena, a municipality near Belém, cites a possible “crisis” of açaí, with the high demand for domestic and foreign markets. “This crisis has been going on for a few years now because our product, when it arrives in the capital, is disputed by buyers, in addition to being in a period of less production, due to the off-season,” he says.
Embrapa's agronomist, João Tomé de Farias Neto, explained that climate change, among other factors, may have reduced the productivity of the açaí trees of these producers. According to him, the changes are influenced by the climate, deforestation, the need for greater care with the soil and handling of the fruit, which can impact productivity.
For him, it is no use seeing export as a villain, but investing in new cultivation techniques. “Exporting does not deplete the local market, as industries buy only in the harvest, when the price is low, to process and sell in the off-season. In other words, what they export now, was purchased months ago. What would put an end to this problem would be the investment in cultivation on land. To increase this productivity even more in the state, due to the growing demand, would solve the crisis ”, he explained.