Emater reinforces commitment to cocoa agriculture at the Chocolate Festival

The Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company of Pará (Emater-Pará) participated in another edition of the International Chocolate and Cocoa Festival in Altamira, held from June 26 to 29 at the municipality's Event Center. The event was promoted by the Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat for Agricultural Development and Fisheries (Sedap), in partnership with the Altamira City Hall.

In the outdoor space, Emater's booth gathered cocoa producers from family farming in the Xingu region, assisted by the public company. One of the highlights was the nurseryman Paulo Pantoja, from Ramal da Floresta in Altamira, who emphasized the importance of technical support in developing the activity.

“Without Emater's guidance, I wouldn't have reached where I am. From soil preparation, seedling management, sales guidance, and customer service, everything was done with technical support. It was a huge leap for my production and income,” said Pantoja.

For him, the festival is an opportunity to showcase the origin of chocolate and value the work of local producers. “The fair is a recognition. People have the chance to learn how cocoa is cultivated, transformed, and marketed. It is also an incentive for more people to become interested in this productive chain,” he added.

Valued production

The extension worker Carlos Waldir, from Emater's local unit, evaluated the event as a reflection of the strengthening of cocoa production in the Xingu region. “It is exciting to see the growth of the fair. Cocoa is gaining visibility, and our technical assistance work, which starts from nursery preparation to productive management, has contributed to this,” he highlighted.

The president of Emater-Pará, Dr. Joniel Abreu, reinforced the institution's commitment to strengthening family farming and the state economy. “We have several producers being assisted and actively participating in the fair, with their products displayed to the public. This shows the result of our technical work and the continuous investment in the cocoa chain,” he stated.

Audience and programming

During the four days of the event, about 140,000 people visited the Altamira Event Center. The program included shows with local artists, a gastronomic space with regional cuisine, and other attractions open to the public, with free admission.