Tame Nut for Biofuel production
04/17/2008 - Eliane Tenório
The partnership established between the government of the state and the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, through the Institute for Rural Development of Tocantins State, Biotins Energy (biodiesel plant) and Bacaba Farm (company that grows tame nuts) for the cultivation of tame nut plant is generating income and increasing jobs for family farmers of the Caseara and Marianópolis Counties.
According to the agricultural manager of Bacaba Farm and Biotins Energy, Newton Cesar Santana, the property has 134 employees. In 2007 the partnership benefited 300 family farmers who grow tame nut, with guaranteed sale of the production by the company. The partnership is established between the company and the farmer with a ten year contract which can be renewed for another five, according to Santana. He said "The value of the product is adjusted each year if there is inflation, minimizing potential losses both for the producer and for the owner, which ensures the balance of the partnership."
Currently, the area planted with tame nut at Bacaba Farm is 3,100 hectares. "The prospect is that the demand for workers will double with the beginning of harvest and expansion of cultivation," says Santana.
The partnership with the Government of the State through Ruraltins ensures technical assistance and rural extension to family farmers. "The work is focused mainly to avoid the attack of pests and diseases, due to the newness of the crop and the lack of complete studies" is what says chief of Ruraltins office, José Cavalcante Silva. According to him, the inspection is performed constantly, to detect and control possible pests that could attack the produce.