Agroindustrialização de açaí na zona urbana de Mazagão, Amapá: caracterização e percepção de manipuladores artesanais sobre os resíduos do processamento

Abstract

The açaí tree (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is native to the Brazilian Amazon and is often found in floodplain soils; has great economic and social relevance in the North of Brazil, with the state of Pará standing out as the largest producer and consumer. In the state of Amapá, the consumption of açaí is a cultural habit of the population and the municipality of Mazagão occupies the second position in the ranking of açaí producers in the State; as a result, there is an increase in the generation of residues from marcerated açai fruits, which are discarded improperly. In this sense, the objective was to know the agroindustrial activity of açaí fruits combined with the management of processing residues in the urban area of the municipality of Mazagão, Amapá. For that, a field research was carried out, with a quali-quantitative approach, using an interview with a semi-structured script as a data collection tool. Sixteen artisan handlers (beaters) of açaí were interviewed, 87% male and 13% female, with experience in the activity ranging from one to more than 10 years, with a monthly income of up to three thousand reais. It was observed that 69% of those surveyed received training by the Brazilian Service to support micro and small companies - SEBRAE, to carry out the activity. According to 50% of the interviewees, the acquisition price of the fruit is considered reasonable, but 38% consider the sale price of açaí wine to be good, and can yield 25 to 30 liters of açaí processed in liters, with the product being purchased from the region and vicinity of the municipality of Mazagão-AP and the islands of Pará. The estimated amount of açaí waste produced daily varies from four to more than 10 bags of waste, and this material is disposed of on private properties or collected by third parties upon payment by the owner of the unit, and is disposed of twice a week. With regard to the use of waste generated from fruit processing, 81% of respondents know some form of reuse, citing the use as fertilizer and charcoal. Social and environmental problems caused by improper disposal of waste from processing and the interest of artisanal handlers in the sustainable reuse of waste.