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December/
2004 |
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Researchers
from Embrapa visit
Fazenda Tamanduá |
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In
order to fulfill the aims of the sub-project "State-of-the-art
knowledge of organic milk production in Brazil, as a basis for
establishing technology transfer programs", Maria de Fátima Ávila
Pires and Luiz Aroeira, researchers from Embrapa’s dairy cattle area,
visited several properties in the North-east of Brazil which are already
producing organic milk or are in transition to the organic method. |
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Among
the farms they visited was Fazenda Tamanduá, in the municipality of
Santa Terezinha, close to Patos in the State of Paraíba. According to
Maria de Fátima, they were very well received by the owner and the
professionals working in the organic milk production system. “We had
an excellent impression of the farm as a whole, and especially the
techniques that are being employed in handling the animals in a biome
such as the caatinga, which is different from those traditionally
used for milk production and specifically for organic milk
production”, the researcher stated. |
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Maria de Fátima
during her visit to Fazenda Tamandua |
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As an example of
these technologies, the researchers mentioned the use of native
legumes and the hay prepared from pasture grasses planted in the vazante
areas (river and reservoir banks cultivated after the floods
recede). “We researchers for the Embrapa dairy cattle area wish
you all – the owner, technicians and field workers –
success in your enterprise, and would like
to thank you once again for the attention we received and place
ourselves at your disposal at Embrapa”, she declared.
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Development
of organic bee-keeping in the Sertão
region
of Paraíba: Apis-Sertão
Project |
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Conventional bee-keeping has always been carried out in areas in
which agro-chemicals are Intensively applied, such as fruit
orchards cultivated in the conventional way. The honey and
derivatives produced in these areas may be storing and
preserving these pesticides, consequently causing grave problems
to the environment and human health. However, it is possible to
carry on ecological bee-keeping, free from toxic contamination
in the products. To achieve this, it is sufficient to respect
certain characteristics and the proper bee-keeping practices in
order to produce organic honey. Based on the characteristics of
the vegetation in the sertão region of the State of
Paraíba, we can state that it has great potential for the
bee-keeping business, because it has forest species with a high
honey yield, which in a year with rainfall may permit 4 to 5
honey collections during the rainy season.
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Juquinha and
his apiário |
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Delivery of bee boxes, built with mango trees wood. |
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The APIS-SERTÃO project is an organic bee-keeping
project covering the following four municipalities:
Patos, Santa Terezinha, São Mamede and São José de
Espinharas. It involves an association among Empresa
Mocó Agropecuária, the Cooperar Project and small
farmers who are also bee-keepers. The initial
beneficiaries were 16 farmers in those municipalities,
all of them having IBD (Biodynamic Institute)
certification, with 10 bee hives each. At present, we
have the 16 already certified and 6 in the process of
obtaining certification. The bee-keepers located in the
municipalities of Santa Terezinha, São José de
Espinharas and São Mamede are receiving another 10 hives
and 20 honeycomb boxes. And all the farmers included in
the project are receiving technical assistance through
the Agronomist Flávio Alves. |
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The main objectives of the project are to enhance the
image of the North-Eastern semi-arid region – especially
the area in the State of Paraíba –, to avoid or minimize
the migration of the rural population from the sertão
of the State into the large towns, to encourage
bee-keeping and consequently honey consumption in that
region, and to raise the family incomes of small farmers
in the sertão, among others.
On October 12, Pierre Landolt paid a visit to
bee-keepers Jacksom Leite and Geraldo Morais, located
in the municipality of José de Espinharas, and João de
Neiva Guerra Filho (Juquinha) in the municipality of São
Mamede. These farmers are very interested in organic
bee-keeping and are fully aware that bees make honey,
not war!
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Jackson
and Geraldo in front of the apiários |
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GLOBO RURAL
at Fazenda Tamanduá |
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For
several decades, the TV program “Globo Rural” has enchanted people that
are very keen or just curious about agriculture and livestock breeding in
Brazil. Sunday mornings provide a rare moment of common interest throughout
the nation, gathering people living in towns and in the country around the
TV set. Several TV GLOBO teams travel around Brazil throughout the year,
accumulating material of exceptional quality. |
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Ana
Pria, the editor of this famous program, recently completed the second
phase of filming at Fazenda Tamanduá. In fact, Ana decided to
accomplish this assignment in two separate stages, so as to show clearly
the tasks carried out in each of the two seasons we have: our short,
very active, “Winter”, or rainy season, followed by an 8-month
drought during which the mango crop is harvested.
For
two weeks the film crew, consisting of cine reporter Francisco
Meffezzoli Jr. and audio operator Wilson Berzuine, easily integrated
into life at the farm, taking part in the activities, bringing up many
doubts and asking lots of questions. Ana, who is well informed about
organic agriculture, easily won over all the workers on the farm,
interviewing young and old with great tact and courtesy. |
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Globo
Rural team at Fazenda Tamanduá |
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Ana wrote the following
comment: “What most impressed me were the people on the farm, living
well, the children at school, the preservation of the environment. The
integration among all the segments of the farm, in accordance with the
biodynamic concept, is also very interesting.”
Many
different aspects were filmed –
routine and seasonal activities, research, social life and feast days –
and we are sure that this program will reflect the life of our community
very clearly and faithfully. When it is time for it to be broadcast,
possibly in March 2005 or later, we will inform our readers in advance
through this newsletter. |
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Fazenda
Tamanduá
Caixa Postal 65 - Patos / Paraíba - CEP 58700-970 - Brazil
Tel.(55
83)3422-7070 Fax(55 83)3422-7071 |
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