Association expands seed storage capacity and sales increase
By Tatiane Ribeiro
Each year, the Xingu Seed Network (RSX) takes new steps towards strengthening its structure and financial sustainability. In 2019, the acquisition of two maritime containers that will be used at the Casa de Sementes in Canarana, Mato Grosso, and the increase in the number of sales of native seeds demonstrate that the actions within the forest restoration area are on the right path.
“With the growing demand, it was necessary to invest in structure to store more seeds and with these containers we were able to increase our storage capacity by at least 50%”, explains Bruna Dayanna Ferreira, director of the association. Coated with PVC, the containers will help in accommodating the seeds in order to make the work of house technicians more efficient, one of which will serve as the team’s office. In all, 42 tons of seeds can be stored in one of these equipments.
Containers acquired by the Xingu Seed Network in 2019. Photo: Disclosure
In relation to the sale of seeds, the figures for the closing of 2019 exceeded the expectations of the beginning of the year. “Of our customers, only two had contacted us until March. Most of the sales took place in the second half of the year and, to our surprise, it is the largest we have ever had. R $ 33 tonnes were requested from fourteen clients, which is equivalent to R $ 1,019.98 ”, says Bruna.
More sales, more resources coming to communities. This approach of new customers also increases the challenges of the network that needs to review the seed storage capacity, as well as the increase in the collection potential of some species, the increase in the collection areas, the insertion of new groups of collectors and the development new collection and processing technologies.
“This result shows that the network and our partners have done an important job of publicizing through expeditions, participation in events, demonstrative areas in strategic states to disseminate the muvuca technique, which is our flagship in forest restoration”, says the director.
The importance of growing
As a social business, the sale of seeds plays an important role in defraying part of the work and activities that the association carries out, such as, for example, paying bills daily, maintaining and renting spaces (seed houses), fees, among others. . “In addition, sales are important for the consolidation of the association in the offer of native species in the ecological restoration market, driven by the production chain of restoration”, comments João Carlos Pereira Mendes, restoration technician at ARSX.
Elaboration of muvuca, mix of native seeds supplied by ARSX, for planting in rural properties. Rogério Assis / ISA
For the coming years, the network intends to continue the search for new projects that make socially based work possible in the collection groups in the Xingu-Araguaia region, in Mato Grosso, and in Pará, thus providing more opportunities for the communities that are part of the association that live and generate resources from what the forest offers.
In addition, our goal is to grow in numbers of areas restored by the association itself, offering a service for the implantation of areas using the seed muvuca technique ”, points out Bruna. “The consequence of this is an increase in the volume of water in rivers and better quality of these waters. Another focus of ours for the coming years is also to support the creation and structuring of new seed networks in other states and biomes across Brazil. ”