O desafios da sucessão geracional no extrativismo do babaçu no povoado Sumaúma do Japão (Maranhão, Brasil)

Abstract

The issue of generational succession in rural areas is widely debated, both among traditional and peasant communities themselves and in various academic and political settings. The importance of this discussion lies in the profound impact that youth participation has on the continuity and sustainability of rural life. Generational succession is not only an economic challenge but also a social and cultural one, directly affecting family dynamics, community cohesion, the relationship with the territory, ways of life, and the transmission of traditional knowledge. This dissertation analyzes the topic of generational succession through a case study focused on describing and analyzing contemporary practices of young people engaged in babassu extractivism in the village of Sumaúma do Japão, located in the municipality of Vitória do Mearim, Maranhão, Brazil. A qualitative approach was adopted, including participant observation and semi-structured and open interviews with a wide range of interlocutors, including babassu nut breakers who are both engaged and not engaged in the activity, young people who are children of babassu nut breakers, and young seasonal migrants. The research also employed an ethnographic approach, particularly in the visual field, with the production of image notebooks accompanying the text. The study aimed to capture perceptions, practices, and values associated with the transmission of traditional knowledge about babassu, as well as to identify the stages of babassu-related work in which young people are involved and the challenges they face in engaging with the activity. The research revealed that babassu extractivism remains an important practice in Sumaúma do Japão, both economically and in terms of knowledge transmission. However, a significant portion of the village’s youth associates babassu work with poverty, which negatively impacts their motivation to engage in the activity, consequently weakening generational succession and the transmission of traditional knowledge. Additionally, the study found that seasonal mobility patterns, which lead young men to work outside the village, also influence the activity. The remittances they send, combined with participation in social programs and pensions, sometimes lead their wives or mothers to opt out of the activity. Finally, restrictions and limitations on access to babassu groves are beginning to be felt in the region, posing an additional pressure on the activity. This research aims to contribute to the debate on rural succession, babassu extractivism, and related policy formulation.