Aspectos socioambientais e culturais no processo de produção de rapadura no município de Boa Hora-PI

Abstract

In the state of Piauí, rapadura is highly regarded for its diversity of flavors and forms. In addition to its tantalizing taste, rapadura serves a vital environmental purpose by utilizing waste sugar cane juice from the sugar production process. The objective was to analyze the socio environmental, cultural and economic aspects of rapadura production in the municipality of Boa-Hora PI, verifying how the practices developed in the mills can help in local development. Data were collected from September 2023 to July 2024 with small producers in the municipality, through interviews and semi-structured questionnaires containing 21 questions. They were then distributed across 15 mills to people directly involved in the production of rapadura and its by-products, specifically the sugarcane producers who are responsible for the mills. The collected data was analyzed and interpreted and then presented visually through graphs, facilitating a clear understanding of the identified trends. It was observed that rapadura production not only represents a significant source of income for rural families, but is also a crucial element in preserving the region's cultural identity. The study highlighted the importance of the artisanal techniques used that not only promote sustainability, but also prevents environmental degradation. It was possible to understand how the work routine takes place in these mills, the infrastructure, the importance of production for these families as well as the social aspects related to it, that is, the objective of this study was met