QUILOMBOLA SWIDDENS AND ETHNOKNOWLEDGE IN THE AMAZON: CASSAVA MANAGEMENT AND AGROBIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN THE RAMAL DO BACURI COMMUNITY, ABAETETUBA, PARÁ
Abstract
The study analyzed the productive systems and traditional practices associated with the swiddens of the Ramal do Bacuri Community, located in the Amazon region of Pará, in the municipality of Abaetetuba, Pará, with the aim of understanding the role of these areas in family economy, agrobiodiversity conservation, and the preservation of local knowledge. The research is justified by the relevance of subsistence agriculture for Amazonian communities, whose productive base sustains not only food supply but also sociocultural identity and environmental balance. The study adopted a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with farming families, in situ observation, and descriptive analysis of the collected data. The results showed that the swiddens occupy areas ranging from 1,250 m² to 12,500 m², with cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) as the main economic activity, associated with other food species. There was a predominance of traditional slash-and-burn practices, the use of manual tools, and family labor, with emphasis on the participation of women in planting and management stages.It was also observed that the swiddens function as spaces for the conservation of ethnovarieties, the circulation of knowledge, and the strengthening of local culture. It is concluded that the agricultural system of Ramal do Bacuri expresses a sustainable form of management and cultural resistance, essential for maintaining community life in the Amazon.
Author Biographies
Graduate in Natural Sciences – Chemistry (Universidade do Estado do Pará) and Pedagogy, specialist in Chemistry Teaching and Rural Education, master’s in Environmental Sciences and PhD in Biodiversity and Biotechnology (BIONORTE/Universidade Federal do Pará). Works in research on ethnoknowledge, agrobiodiversity and Chemistry teaching, focusing on Amazonian communities. Coordinator of Lower Secondary Education (final years) in Abaetetuba, Chemistry teacher with experience in educational management, quilombola education, and participation in forums and research groups in the Amazon.
Master’s student in Cities, Territories, Identities and Education (Universidade Federal do Pará/Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), with teaching degrees in Philosophy, Pedagogy, and History, as well as several specializations in the field of Human Sciences. Works as a Pedagogical Technician at SEMEC in Abaetetuba and has teaching experience in basic and higher education in public and private institutions. Develops activities in teaching, research, and educational management, focusing on education, territoriality, public policies, and Amazonian reality.
Graduate in Letters (Universidade Federal do Pará), Pedagogy, and with several postgraduate degrees in Rural Education and Amazonian Studies; master’s degree in Education and Culture (Universidade Federal do Pará). Has worked as a teacher of Portuguese Language, Literature, and Arts, school manager, and supervisor of PIBID/Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, with experience in the riverside region of Abaetetuba. Currently coordinates MORIVA, works in PARFOR, and develops research in quilombola, peasant, and socio-environmental education in the Amazon.
Licensed Geography teacher, Faculdades Integradas Ipiranga, specialist in Rural Education, Master in Education Science from the Universidade de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Geography teacher and teacher of Abaetetuba, Pará, and Amazonian Studies at the Municipal Government of Abaetetuba.
Pedagogue (Universidade Federal do Pará), specialist in School Management and Master’s in Cities, Territories, Identities and Education (Universidade Federal do Pará). Has experience in teaching, pedagogical coordination, and management in Basic and Professional Education in Abaetetuba. Currently serves as Director of Education at SEMEC and is a member of a research group on public policies, biodiversity, and sustainability.
Master’s student in Education and undergraduate student in Pedagogy (Universidade Federal do Pará), specialist in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and licensed in Natural Sciences – Physics (Universidade do Estado do Pará). Member of a research group in Education, Childhood and Philosophy, with experience in projects in the field of Science teaching. Conducts research on teacher education, decolonial thought and teaching work.
Graduate in Pedagogy, History, and Theology, with specializations in Quilombola Education, Inclusive Education, and Rural Education in the Amazon. Master’s student in Cities, Territories, Identities and Education (Universidade Federal do Pará), with 20 years of experience in rural and quilombola education. Currently works as a pedagogical technician at SEMEC in Abaetetuba, in the area of ethnic-racial and quilombola school education.
PhD and Master in Education from the Universidade Federal do Pará, with degrees in Physical Education, Speech Therapy, and Pedagogy, as well as specializations in the educational field. Has worked as a public education teacher since 2003, with extensive experience in management, having served as Municipal Secretary of Education of Abaetetuba (2009–2016) and currently holding the position again. Participates in councils, forums, and research groups, working on educational public policies, planning, and teacher training.
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