Discover the story of a family that produces cocoa in Caroebe, in the south of Roraima The area cultivated with cocoa in Roraima has grown almost eight times since 2019 and reached 1,300 hectares. Driven by the Cacau Amazônia Project, the culture expanded mainly in the south of the state and began to represent an alternative income for rural producers, especially in the municipalities of Caroebe, Rorainópolis and São Luiz. In 2019, the planted area was 170 hectares. The growth occurs mainly after actions to encourage the cultivation of the fruit, with seed distribution, technical assistance and training of rural producers. 🍫 The Cacau Amazônia Project is an economic development program that seeks to transform cocoa into one of the main agricultural production chains in Roraima, supporting producers from planting to the sale of chocolates and derivatives. The initiative is coordinated by the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae). One of these producers is family farmer Vilmara Ramos da Costa, resident of vicinal 15, in the rural area of ​​Caroebe, in the south of Roraima. The family's relationship with cocoa began in 2014, on the initiative of her father. At the time, production was aimed solely at self-consumption. ✅ Click here to follow the g1 RR channel on WhatsApp As the years passed, cultivation required more dedication. The process involved steps such as pruning, fertilizing, handling, harvesting, fermenting and drying the almonds. Currently, much of the work is carried out by Vilmara, her son and grandson, which makes production difficult. "Ten months without being able to harvest, because of working time, we are three people. My grandson manages the schedules. My son manages other productions." According to the Secretariat of Agriculture, Development and Innovation (Seadi), more than 700 producers currently participate in the cocoa production chain in Roraima. According to the coordinator of Family and Indigenous Agriculture, Sausalém Bastos, cocoa has shown good adaptation to the soil and climate of Roraima, which has driven new investments in the sector. The activity is also strengthened through the Cacau Amazônia project, which offers courses, technical assistance and monitoring to farmers. Training, however, is not always easily accessible for those who live in areas further away from urban centers. The Vilmara property, for example, is approximately 44 kilometers from the municipal seat of Caroebe and approximately 397 kilometers from Boa Vista. Even with travel difficulties, Sebrae technicians regularly visit communities to provide guidance directly to producers. "In the case of this producer, Vilmara, she has been assisted with technical assistance, carried out by one of the project partners, which are 11 partner institutions, each with their own role. She receives technical assistance on the property with Iater technicians, participates in training in rural property management", said Rodrigo Rosa, Sebrae analyst and manager of the Cacau Amazônia Project. In addition to technical assistance, partner institutions donate seedlings and inputs. In one of the most recent actions, Vilmara's family received more than a thousand seedlings distributed by the Institute of Technical Assistance and Rural Extension of Roraima (Iater). Chocolate made with Caroebe cocoa Luiz de Matos/Rede Amazônica Cocoa planted in Caroebe, in the south of Roraima Luiz de Matos/Rede Amazônica Read other state news on g1 Roraima.