Indicadores de sustentabilidade no manejo da carnaúba (Copernicia prunifera) em assentamentos rurais no Ceará, Nordeste, Brasil

Abstract

In Northeastern Brazil, carnauba wax (Copernicia prunifera, Mill. H. E. Moore) from extractive activities is among the top ten export items for Ceará and Piauí. Despite its economic importance, this production chain reproduces a socio-economic model of concentrated income and power. Most extractive activities rely on informal labor relations lacking legal protection. This study investigates carnauba wax powder extraction in two settlements, Aragão and Nova Terra, in Miraíma, Ceará, highlighting its connection to the agrarian question, rural economic life, and the social function of land. Access to land is identified as a strategic resource for economic development. Literature still lacks prospective studies on labor forms within this chain to analyze its sustainability. Using the MESMIS methodology through a participatory and interdisciplinary approach, this research evaluated the qualitative and quantitative differences between two agrarian reform settlements operating the carnauba harvest under distinct regimes, examining these differences through sustainability indicators. Could family labor mobilization and community organization offer a solution to financial capital scarcity? The tendency of settlements to lease carnauba groves to third parties undermines the potential economic and social benefits of autonomous management. Results highlight the link between extractive activity and economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The Aragão settlement, under autonomous management, showed better economic performance in remuneration and profit distribution indicators, while Nova Terra faced challenges due to leasing dependency. Lack of formal contracts and precarious working conditions are recurring issues, affecting workers' safety and dignity. Furthermore, the importance of agricultural diversification was evident in the settlements' capacity to generate income across different periods. To improve sustainability, it is crucial to foster self-organization and community empowerment, enabling control over carnauba exploitation to maximize economic, social, and environmental benefits.