"Do cacau ao chocolate": contribuição do agroturismo ao desenvolvimento territorial na região transamazônica - PA

Abstract

The cultivation of cocoa is currently in full expansion in Pará, with emphasis on the Transamazônica region, the main state producer pole that encompasses seven municipalities, including Medicilândia, the largest producer of cocoa almonds in the country. The cocoa crop present on the shores of the Transamazônica is an activity that generates jobs and moves the economy in the region, but little reflects on the quality of life of the inhabitants of the region. This is largely observed due to the high degree of informal transactions, by the presence of a market structure that does not favor the development of the territory, coupled with the lack of horizontal and vertical production arrangements capable of generating economic, social and cultural benefits to the region. In this context, the present research proposes to analyze the possibilities and potentialities of tourism contribution to the territorial development of the Transamazônica region, through the valorization of the productive chain "cocoa to chocolate" in the region. The idea was based on the assumption that cocoa is the differentiator element of the Tranzamazônica region and that, therefore, is the generating factor of social and economic transformations in the life of the small family-based farmer. For this purpose, a qualitative descriptive and exploratory study was proposed, which included field research and semi- structured interviews with representatives of the public authorities (CEPLAC, SEDEME, SEDAP, SETUR), regional chocolate manufacturers, society organized, civil society (cooperatives, organisations), as well as producers and farmers of cocoa. The methodological procedure included bibliographical and documentary surveys. The results pointed to the idea of greater integration between the cocoa chains and the modality of tourism in the rural area in the Transamazônica, as an example of measures that integrate agrotourism into the agro-food sector, valuize the relationship between product and territory, linked to the redemption of historical and cultural values of the Transamazônica and the appreciation of the regional natural heritage. It was possible to conclude that the development of agrotourism associated with the "cocoa to chocolate" production chain is configured as an alternative capable of contributing to the development of the Transamazonian territory, so you need to think about policies that do not are attached to models only replicated from other regions, that is, recognize the social and territorial diversity as well as the peculiarities of the Tranzamazonian region.