Importância das frutíferas nativas para famílias agricultoras na Cantuquiriguaçu, PR

Abstract

Brazil's biodiversity is one of the most expressive of the terrestrial biosphere and has an important role in providing various products and environmental services. Among these products, should be highlighted native fruits, which have been historically neglected. The mixed ombrophilous forest in the state of Paraná (PR) has an important diversity of native fruits, which represent a socio-economic and cultural potential, still little known and exploited. Recognition and appreciation of popular knowledge about native fruits is an essential strategy for the conservation and enhancement of these species. In that sense, the study here presented aims to analyze the accumulated knowledge and perception of farming families core "Luta Camponesa" of Ecovida Agroecology Network about the native fruit of Cantuquiriguaçu region, PR. It was identified the known native fruits, which are present in the lots, the uses and commercialization of native fruits and forms of management and propagation performed with these species. The research was conducted with 17 farming families of "Rio Bonito do Iguaçu", "Laranjeiras do Sul", "Palmital" and "Santa Maria do Oeste" municipalities. An image catalog with 57 species of native fruits with alimentary potential identified in the literature was made. From then on, semi-structured interviews were held with visits to lots of the selected families. It has been verified that families know on average 41 species of native fruits. Of these, 23 are known to all the families interviewed. Each lot has, on average, 29 species of native fruits. The families make use of, on average, 18 native fruits. The species most utilized, in order of importance, are: the Eugenia uniflora L. (“pitanga”), the Rubus sellowii Cham. & Schltdl. (“amora-preta”), the Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Cambess.) O.Berg (“guavirova”), the Annona neosalicifolia H.Rainer (“ariticum-amarelo”), the Eugenia involucrata DC. (“cereja”), the Eugenia pyriformis Cambess. (“uvaia”), the Inga vera Willd. (“ingá-amarelo”), the Allophilus edulis (A.St.-Hil. et al.) Hieron. ex Niederl. (“vacum”), the Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze (“pinhão”) and the Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman (“coquinho”). The main form of use of native fruit is fresh form, but were also identified several other specific uses from the same, primarily in the form of juices and jellies and initial marketing experience in fairs and "Agroindústria Coperjunho". Most of the native fruit occurs spontaneously in batches, in which the management is still incipient. Therefore, there is an important diversity of native fruits in lots of families interviewed, however, this is still a little tapped potential. It was verified the importance of fruit trees native in biocultural memory of these families, which demonstrated interest in increasing the consumption and commercialization of these fruits. Lastly, we understand the importance of agroecology in the recovery and conservation of fruit trees native and strengthening of family farming in the region, in addition to considering the intrinsic natural potential in the region for the construction of territorial development policies.