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Project

Materialize

Association of Small Agro-farmers in the Reca Project

Project official website
Total project value
R$ 7,126,393.21
Total support amount
US$ 2,411,118.40
organization type
Third Sector
Themes
Settlement
Location
Acre
Rondônia
Axises
Sustainable production
Concluded

Presentation

Objective

Strengthen the production chain of cupuaçu, açaí, vegetable oils and peach palm, through the implementation of agroforestry systems (AFS), the expansion and modernization of the productive capacity of the pulp processing units and the restructuring of a plant oil processing unit and a nut and seed storage shed, in the traditional communities of Ponta do Abunã, in order to constitute a sustainable economic alternative to deforestation

Beneficiary

Agro-extractionist families associated with conglomerate entities and beneficiaries of the investments in fruit processing plants

Territorial scope

The Ponta do Rio Abunã – municipalities of Porto Velho (RO) and Acrelândia (AC)

Description

Project selected in the first Amazon Fund’s direct public call-to-submission of sustainable productive projects. 

CONTEXTUALIZATION 

The scope of the “Concretizar (Materialize)” project is an area located on the triple border between the states of Acre, Amazonas and Rondônia, a region known as Ponta do Rio Abunã. There are 25 projects for agrarian reform settlements established in this region, totaling more than 6,231 km² occupied by almost nine thousand families of settled farmers. It is an area of agrarian conflict, with serious social and environmental issues. The Association of Small Agro-farmers in the Reca Project has been operating in the region since 1989, as a pioneer in the experience of sustainable use of the forest in Brazil and serving as a model for several interested parties in the implementation of agroforestry systems (AFS).

THE PROJECT

The project was selected through the Public Call for Sustainable Productive Projects, within the scope of the Amazon Fund, intended to support "conglomerating" projects, which were managed by one entity and composed of sub-projects from other entities. The four conglomerated entities, responsible for the execution of the project's actions, were Associação Baixa Verde (ABV), the Associação dos Produtores Rurais do Município de Acrelândia (ASPROMACRE), Associação dos Pequenos Agrossilvicultores do Projeto RECA (Associação RECA) and Cooperativa Agropecuária e Florestal of the RECA Project (Cooper-RECA)¹.

The project proposed to deploy 300 hectares of AFS in 135 family units of the members. Furthermore, the following transversal actions of general scope were carried out for all agglutinated entities: a) expansion and modernization of the productive capacity of the fruit processing units, especially cupuaçu and açaí; b) reconstruction of the oil and seed processing unit and the drying and storage structures of nuts and other in natura and processed products; c) institutional strengthening; and d) technical assistance and rural extension (ATER). Through cross-cutting actions, the project estimated to benefit other 435 families in the region, providing them with the opportunity to process their production at the RECA facilities.

¹ Associação RECA appears in the project as a conglomerating and conglomerated entity. This was due to the fact that during the analysis phase, there was the withdrawal of two previously selected entities. Since the Associação RECA has a significant number of associated families and the basic activity of all these families is the cultivation of AFS, its inclusion was proposed, as well as that of the Cooperative linked to it, as executing entities  of AFS.

INTERVENTION LOGIC

The project is part of the "Sustainable Production" component (1) of the Logical Framework of the Amazon Fund. Its direct effects were defined as follows: 1.2 "agroforestry and biodiversity product chains with expanded added value"; 1.3 "technical capacity of small agro-extractionists expanded for the implementation of AFS and in good practices of production and storage of products of socio-biodiversity and community leaders in project management, participatory governance and marketing strategies"; and 1.4 "deforested and degraded areas recovered through agroforestry systems (AFS) and used for economic purposes and ecological consequences". 

In addition to promoting the expansion of the area with vegetation cover in the Amazon, recovery of deforested areas through AFS provides income alternatives for local populations by integrating the simultaneous cultivation of agricultural crops and forest species. Additionally, the possibility of local processing of the species allows to increase the added value and increase the generation of local income. Such activities directly contribute to the general objective of the Amazon Fund to "reduce deforestation with sustainable development in the Legal Amazon".

Click on the following image to view its objectives tree, that is, how the project's outputs and linked to the expected outcomes and impact.
quadrologico_EN



Evolution

Date of approval 10.14.2014
Date of the contract 01.19.2015
Date of conclusion 10.30.2020
Disbursement period 31 months (from the date the contract was signed)
approval
10.14.2014
award
01.19.2015
conclusion
10.30.2020

Disbursement

date amount
1º disbursements 05.11.2015 R$1,069,003.00
2º disbursements 10.26.2015 R$2,148,147.39
3º disbursements 12.22.2015 R$1,671,228.00
4º disbursements 08.29.2016 R$1,436,869.60
5º disbursements 08.18.2017 R$97,500.01
Total amount disbursed R$6,422,748.00

Total amount disbursed in relation to the Amazon Fund’s support

100%

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED

Five ATER technicians were hired, aiming at the implementation of 300 ha of AFS. The management of activities involved the acquisition of inputs and services for the four agglutinated entities, monitoring the implementation and maintenance of plantations. As a result of this joint effort, 339,149 seedlings of 38 different species were planted, which allowed 115 combinations of inter-cropped varieties. The 11 most relevant economic combinations prevailed in the project, such as peach palm, cupuaçu, açaí, andiroba, copaíba and cumaru, all processed in the RECA units. The proper execution of these activities required the performance of 1,059 technical visits to 126 properties, covering a total area of 7,796 ha.

In order to expand and modernize the fruit processing units, two production lines were concentrated in the same place, one for the processing of cupuaçu (and other fruits) and another for açaí. The new unit that was built, with a total area of 1,296 m², was equipped with machines and equipment designed to process up to fifteen tons of pulp per day. The installed storage structure, with 543 m², comprises a cold chamber and a freezing tunnel, a stock area of in natura and processed products and a drying structure. The latter two also serve the plant and seed oil processing unit.

The following were also implemented: (i) a water distribution and supply system, scaled to meet production peaks in the fruit processing unit; (ii) a wastewater collection system in industrial units coupled to a wastewater treatment plant (ETE); (iii) a rainwater use system for water catchment; and (iv) a heart of palm cooking water recirculation system.

Finally, equipment was purchased to equip the analysis laboratory located in the fruit processing unit, whose modernization was considered necessary for the proper operation of the  new structure.

It should be mentioned that a fire occurred in 2015, at the beginning of the project execution period, destroying part of the Cooperativa RECA facilities, which is why it was necessary to supplement resources to allow the reconstruction of the oil and seed processing unit and the drying and storage structures for nuts and other in natura and processed products.

These investments were incorporated into the activities carried out, resulting in a new production unit with the capacity to process 100 kg of raw material per hour in an area of 504 m². This claim led to the inclusion of items related to safety, fire prevention and firefighting systems, including the installation of fire hydrants, extinguishers and alarms,  both in the old and new facilities.  A camera monitoring system was installed in strategic surveillance places, as well as a monitoring panel for the movement in the factories. In addition, 30 people, including associates and employees, were trained to compose a volunteer team of brigade members.

The institutional strengthening of the conglomerated entities included investments in the physical infrastructure of the respective headquarters and in the training actions aimed at the productive activities. The physical space for meetings and community events represented by ASPROMACRE was reformed and expanded to 132 m², while for ABV a new community center was built to hold events and meetings in an area of 192 m². Both were equipped with basic items such as files, refrigerators, air conditioning systems, tables and chairs.

As part of the training actions, 49 events were held with the participation of 443 people (270 men and 173 women), including workshops, field days, exchanges on the implementation and management of AFS, lectures on good practices with experienced agro-extractionists in the region, seminars, themed events and technical meetings.

Final Evaluation

Result and impact indicators

The project activities contributed to the results related to the “sustainable production” component (1) of the Amazon Fund Logical Framework¹.

Below are the results of the main indicators agreed to monitor the expected direct effects.

Direct effect 1.2 - Chains of agroforestry products and biodiversity with expanded added value

  • Revenue obtained by COOPER-RECA with the economic activities of sustainable use supported by the project, broken down by product (outcome indicator)
    Target: Vegetable oils BRL 536 thousand | Result achieved: BRL1.5MM
    Target: Cupuaçu BRL 2.7 MM | Result achieved: BRL1.3MM
    Target: Açai BRL 1.8 MM | Result achieved: BRL 632 thousand
    Target: Peach palm BRL 887 thousand | Result achieved: BRL 341 thousand
    Target: Brazil Nut not defined | Result achieved: BRL 589 thousand 

The aggregate results of the project reveal revenues three times higher than the target established for vegetable oils.  For the other products, the results are at levels below the established goals.  However, considering all the products supported by the project, there was a growth of more than 40% in its revenue in relation to the beginning of the project (baseline). It should be noted that the project's aggregate results refer to the period ended in 2018. 

  • Number of storage structures (cold room and freezing tunnel) of in natura and processed products deployed (ouput indicator)
    Target: 3 | Result achieved: 3 
  • Number of processing structures reformed or expanded (output indicator)
    Target: 3 | Result achieved: 2

Throughout the execution of the project, RECA concluded that it would be possible to optimize the investment by maintaining the cupuaçu and açaí processing lines in the same unit. Thus, two processing units were implemented (one of fruits and the other of oils) with an installed capacity higher than the three units originally foreseen in the goal.

Direct effect 1.3 - Technical capacity of small agro-extractionists expanded for the implementation of AFS and in good practices for the production and storage of products of socio-biodiversity and community leaders in project management, participatory governance and marketing strategies

  • Number of individuals trained for the implementation of AFS and the adoption of good practices for the production and storage of socio-biodiversity products specified by gender (output indicator) 
    Target: 120 men and 50 women | Results achieved: 353 men and 90 women
  • Number of leaders trained in project management, participatory governance and marketing strategies specified by gender (outcome indicator) 
    Target: 35 men and 15 women | Results achieved: 74 men and 44 women

Direct effect 1.4 - Deforested and degraded areas recovered through agroforestry systems (AFS) and used for economic and ecological consequence purposes 

  • AFS area deployed (output indicator)
    Target: 300 ha | Result achieved: 315.2 ha 
  • Area of forest directly managed as a result of the project (outcome indicator)
    Target: 3,230 ha | Result achieved: 6,867 ha

The following table shows the deforestation evolution in the last six years in the two municipalities where the project activities are concentrated, as well as the total deforested area in relation to the respective total area. In the case of the municipality of Acrelândia, it can be observed that the average annual deforestation during the project execution period (2015-2019) was 4% higher than the rate verified in the base year (2014). The same comparison for the municipality of Porto Velho reveals an increase of 57%, which reinforces the relevance of projects aimed at the protection and sustainable use of the forest, combined with the permanent performance of communities and local representative entities. It should be noted that Porto Velho is one of the largest municipalities in Brazil in territorial area and one of the most populous in the Amazon.                

 

Area (km²)

Total deforested (km2)

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Porto Velho (RO)

34,631

10,617.9

(30.7%)

419.0

388.8

353.4

309.0

289.2

224.9

Acrelândia (AC)

1,880

1,227.3

(65.3%)

20.4

23.8

6.1

24.5

15.2

17.3

(values in parentheses = % of total area)
Source: elaboration based on PRODES/INPE data.
 ¹http://www.fundoamazonia.gov.br/export/sites/default/pt/.galleries/documentos/monitoramento-avaliacao/0.home/FA-Arvore_de_objetivos_2018.pdf

Institutional and administrative aspects

In general, the project was properly executed and achieved the main targets established. Among the aspects that contributed to this result, we can highlight the history of RECA and Cooper-RECA with the production in AFS, which favored the consolidation of the product value chain. Through partnerships with Embrapa-AC and Embrapa-RO, RECA has sought to map the soil profiles of the region and research the potential of other products, such as “cupulate”, and the best use of products already utilized, such as peach palm. Particularly in relation to the design of the project, the role played by ATER professionals in the technical support to producers stands out, constituting an important element for the achievement of results and their sustainability. Other relevant partnerships under the project were established with the Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR-RO) for agroforestry residency actions and with the Executive Commission of the Cocoa Farming Plan of Pará (CEPLAC-PA) for the transfer of improvement technology for seedling production. 

RECA'S institutional maturity was very important in supporting ABV and Aspromacre, attesting to the relevance of the Amazon Fund's support modality through conglomerating entities. Physical investments (construction of the respective headquarters and acquisition of equipment) and management training actions in these two entities, by providing them with material conditions more appropriate for the performance of their activities, were also decisive in the transfer of knowledge and experience that will enable them to future investment cycles².

Finally, it should be noted that this project stands out positively for its broader view of the value chain of agroforestry products, with a significant part of the investments made in the processing stages, complementing the activities of planting agroforestry systems.

² A video about the project and, in particular about the benefits of AFS training for the members of the executing entities can be found at http://www.fundoamazonia.gov.br/pt/projeto/Concretizing/#iframe-1

Risks and lessons learned

Two events provided a lesson in the importance of preserving some flexibility for the adjustment of the project's implementation strategy throughout its execution. The first was due to the fire that occurred in June 2015, which led to the total loss of the oil and seed processing unit and required the request for an amendment to the project. Its approval generated changes in the physical and financial execution of the project, at the same time that it motivated the implementation of safety, prevention and firefighting systems in all production units, also resulting in the training of 30 employees and associates for the formation of a voluntary brigade.

In the other case, an opportunity for optimization was identified in the fruit processing units which, after approval of an additive, modified the initial configuration of the project to benefit greater production capacity.

Sustainability of results

RECA'S trajectory, based on the promotion of Amazonian socio-biodiversity and on the productive organization of community-based family production, has been built on partnerships and commercialization strategies that value its own brand. In this project, RECA'S nearly 40 years of experience was shared with partner entities that joined the cooperative model and, as such, contributed to the sustainability of the results achieved.

Most of the actions supported were focused on sustainable production and income generation for local populations. This characteristic contributes to the results achieved being sustained over time and even expanded in the most successful cases.

However, it is important to remember that the persistent impacts of Covid-19 and the economic uncertainties associated with it pose additional challenges to the sustainability of the results of this and other projects.

Collection

In this area we offer some PDF files with the main publications generated by the project. Click the filename to start the download.