Do avortado ao comprado: práticas alimentares e a segurança alimentar da comunidade quilombola do baixo Acaraqui, Abaetetuba, Pará

Abstract

This research presents the analysis of different strategies of Food and Nutritional Security (SAN) developed by the families of the Quilombola Community of baixo Acaraqui, Abaetetuba, Pará. The community is facing changes in their eating habits due the reduction of natural resources (hunting animals, fish and shrimps), decrease of the area for agricultural production and increase of the commercial value of production. Using a qualitative approach and the following procedures: participant observation, semi-structured interviews, photographic record, itemized lists and workshops on eating habits, we investigated the community and their production and food practices. We observed a higher specialization of production, decreasing the diversity of local production and of the families’ self-sufficiency; increasing in the importance of extraction of açaí as an income generator; substitution of natural products (natural juices, teas) for industrial products (coffee, soda); increase in purchasing power, stimulated both by market trades and the social benefits received (bolsa família, pension and seguro defeso). This reality has significantly influenced the production practices and eating habits of the local families, interfering with production decisions and food acquisition, making families dependent on trade and income generation in order to ensure the SAN of the quilombola families.