SUPPORT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION OF FLOUR HOUSES
Flour mills are community, family or private spaces dedicated to food processing, playing a fundamental role in maintaining food and nutritional security and sovereignty in traditional communities. In addition to their productive function, these spaces are centers of socialization and social reproduction, where the culture, knowledge and ways of life of communities are preserved and transmitted from generation to generation. Flour mills not only guarantee food subsistence, but also strengthen community ties and cultural identity, being essential for the sustainability and resilience of traditional communities.
PROBLEM SOLVED
Cassava flour is an essential food for traditional populations throughout Brazil, and flour mills are the fundamental structures for its processing. On the coast of the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, these houses are traditionally built with clay, and traditional communities have been the guardians of this ancestral technology. However, in recent times, the practice of producing flour has become increasingly rare, resulting in the gradual disappearance of flour mills in the region. This phenomenon threatens not only the food and nutritional security of communities, but also the preservation of their traditional knowledge and ways of life.
SOLUTION ADOPTED
The flour house is the central physical structure for the production of cassava flour, playing a crucial role in community life. During the preparation hours, this space becomes a meeting point, where conversations and knowledge exchange take place among community members. In addition to its productive function, the flour house is a significant place for the valorization of gender issues, being dominated by the knowledge and presence of women in agricultural production.
To address the challenge of the disappearance of flour houses and promote the continuity of cassava flour production, we implemented several actions. These actions include sharing experiences and visiting the flour houses, in addition to carrying out community work groups. These initiatives aim not only to maintain and reproduce traditional knowledge, but also to strengthen the solidarity economy. By promoting the production of cassava flour, these actions contribute to the cultural preservation, food security and economic sustainability of traditional communities.
RESULT ACHIEVED
The construction of a flour mill in the Caiçara community of Praia Grande da Cajaíba, in Paraty/RJ, brought significant benefits. The new structure promoted food and nutritional sovereignty, allowing for the sustainable production of cassava flour and ensuring food security for the community. In addition, the flour mill strengthened the defense of Caiçara territory, preserving traditional practices and reinforcing the community's territorial rights. Finally, the initiative promoted gender equality, valuing the role of women in agricultural production and empowering them within the local economy and culture.