From the Amazon forest to the world : Gender divisions of labour in an emerging value chain

This paper aims to study the role and labour of women in the açaí production chain, a native fruit of the Amazon Forest, which recently aroused interest in the national and international market. Denominated as “dark gold” by the extractive people, the açaí is generating income and extra work for the ribeirinhos families besides being the main source of subsistence. The inclusion of this new commodity in the annual calendar of the Amazonian communities has required a redistribution of tasks and significant women’s efforts to balance subsistence and household activities with the açaí chain. Objectively and subjectively, this research approaches the process of divisions of labour and evaluates the recognition and valorization of women's work in acai production. This new commodity has impacted women’s relationship with their families and communities, as well as brought new actors closer to the reality of the local extractive people. Held in 6 traditional communities located in Marajó Island, in the Northern region of Brazil, this study presents reflections about a new value chain, which has the first stage based in a place where the culture is focused on the decisions of men. On the one hand, the açaí has become the main source of income for the families that approached social-environmental projects and courses developed for the local population. On the other hand, the invisibility of women's labour in this chain and the challenges faced by women in reconciling activities are emerging issues, especially in dialogues between mothers and daughters.