Manejo, extração, uso e beneficiamento da palha do tucumã por mulheres da reserva extrativista Tapajós-Arapiuns, Pará, Brasil

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the aspects of management, extraction, production and commercialization of handicrafts from tucumã straw made by women handcrafts in the community of São Miguel, Tapajós-Arapiuns Extrativist Reserve (Pará, Brazil), emphasizing economic, social and environmental contributions of activities. For this research, we conducted semi-structured interviews, seeking to obtain information regarding the weight given, the socioeconomic profile of the families of the crafts and information on the raw material and their main uses. A craftsmanship of the tucumã palm is a collective process of creation and continuous reaffirmation of the regional identity, which involves traditional knowledge techniques and indigenous knowledge. The tucumã handcraft is commercialized in stores located in Santarém and on the beach near Resex for tourists who frequent the region. For the making of handicrafts, it is necessary to conduct 5 stages that follow the line of the guide, removing of stalk and thorns, drying, pigmentation and production of item. The collection of tucumã straw begins by removing a guide from each clump of the palm tree, and a new collection is possible after 45 days. The drying process of the raw material is done in two ways: using sunlight; and using an oven of roasting cassava floor at high temperature. After drying the raw material, straw pigmentation, which has been made not five hundred houses of crafts with natural dyes, extracted from region species. After a pigmentation, and made to produce artisan pieces, in which they are manufactured mainly jewelry holders, biojewelry, pencil holders, trays, lighting fixtures and baskets. Generally, the tucumã straw handcraft was an important source of complementary income, but more like passing the time this activity is becoming the main source of income for families, contributing significantly to improving the quality of life of the handcraft woman family group.