Emater holds the 3rd Cassava Festival in São Domingos do Araguaia
Event held in partnership with the Cassava Producers Association of the Três Irmãos Community featured awards for winners of various competitions that value local culture
The Government of Pará, through the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company (Emater-Pará), held the 3rd edition of the Cassava Festival last weekend in the Três Irmãos Community, in São Domingos do Araguaia, in the Carajás Integration Region, southeastern Pará. The event had the participation of about 250 people and offered awards and dynamic activities that exalted local and traditional culture with the use of cassava, which values traditions and strengthens family farming ties in the community.
Awards were given for the best flour, the fastest cassava peeler, and the largest cassava root. The event also featured a soccer tournament, a parade to elect the cassava queen, and live music.
The producer of the best flour was Leonardo Nascimento, who emphasized the importance of the initiative, which had the partnership of the local Emater office and the Cassava Producers Association of the Três Irmãos Community. “I am immensely grateful for the award. For me, participating in this Festival was a rewarding experience, but mainly for being part of an initiative that values our work, our culture, and our means of livelihood,” highlighted Leonardo.
For the president of the Association, Valderlan Alves, the event values the culture of the communities, uniting knowledge and traditions. According to him, the partnership with Emater is essential in supporting family farmers in the region. “This is already the third event we have held to showcase the culture of our community. For about three years, Emater has been developing technical assistance work with our community, to help us and support us in events like this, providing producers access to financing and public policies, in addition to valuing our culture,” he explained.
Commitment - In actions like this, Emater shows its commitment to small farmers and families that ensure their livelihood based on the sense of community in the pursuit of economic growth.
“We delivered wheelbarrows, fans, uniforms, and soccer balls to the winners of the competitions held during the program. This is the third year we have held the event in partnership with the Association, in yet another initiative that values the farmer who makes a living from cassava,” emphasized Rudinei Magalhães, head of the local Emater office in São Domingos do Araguaia.
