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Brasilia, July 4, 2022 (IICA) – The young Brazilian Francisca Neri, who at only 22 years old became president of the Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders in a municipality in the northeast of Brazil and motivated other young people to become interested in livestock, was recognized as one of the “ Rural Leaders” of the Americas by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

The award, called "Soul of Rurality", is part of an initiative of the organization specialized in agricultural and rural development to recognize men and women who leave their mark and make a difference in the countryside of the American continent, key to food security and nutritional and environmental sustainability of the planet.

Thanks to the opening of new markets and the genetic improvement of animals, in Betânia it has been possible to generate profitability in an activity that until a few years ago was mainly subsistence, and it has also managed to get many young people to stay in rural areas to work alongside their parents in farming.

Today in the municipality there is a fair that has become a reference for animal production and the producers are working to install a certified slaughterhouse, which allows their products to reach supermarkets throughout Brazil.

The Leaders of Rurality Award is a recognition for those who fulfill a double irreplaceable role: to be guarantors of food and nutritional security and at the same time guardians of the planet's biodiversity through production in any circumstance. The recognition also has the function of highlighting the ability to promote positive examples for the rural areas of the region.

Leadership and commitment based on associativity

Daughter of goat and sheep farmers, Francisca Neri was born and grew up watching her parents work. At the age of 17, she married a local producer and became a mother. It was at this time that she began her successful story as a young leader in Betânia, a municipality of just over 6,000 inhabitants located in the Itaim Valley, in the Brazilian state of Piauí.

He quickly approached the municipality's Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders, Ascobetânia, which was working on Viva el Semiárido, a state government project implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) with resources from the International Fund for Agricultural Development. (FIDA) and the Government of Piauí.

Due to her natural gift of leadership, Francisca soon became a member of the administrative board and, at the age of 22, she was the first woman president of Ascobetânia.

Currently, at the age of 25, Francisca is the Secretary of Family Agriculture of the municipality and is a member of the board of directors of the local cooperative COOVITA.

“Associativism and cooperativism run through my blood. They are my life and the foundation of everything I believe in. This is how I fight for people and farmers to get more and more involved. Cooperativism and associativism are the businesses of the future; They were the sources of income for my parents and they will also be for my children and grandchildren”, says Francisca with great pride.

Ascobetânia brings together 133 producing families. In the territory there are more than 316 cooperative members, so there are about 500 families involved. According to Francisca, until 2012 no income was generated from goat and sheep farming, as this was practically subsistence. In 2014, local income from sheep and goat farming reached the amount of R$ 1 million and last year it jumped to R$ 5 million. “It may not seem like much, but I am talking about money that goes directly into the pocket of the farmer, who is the one who produces and deserves to receive it,” Francisca stresses.

making a difference

Francisca's first action in Ascobetânia was to encourage the youth of her community to join. “I think this has been one of the greatest achievements: attracting young people and women to associations in our municipality. Today we have a young man barely 24 years old as president of Coovita, the cooperative society that brings together farmers from six other municipalities in the region,” he says.

He comments that, thanks to the action of the Association, today the sheep and goat farming of Betânia works in an organized and planned manner. “We opened new markets, because we streamlined the way we work and put everything in order. We established annual schedules for the delivery of animals by each family, we carry out training and efforts aimed at genetic improvement,” he explains.

Francisca personifies the resistance and the fight against the growing process of rural exodus, especially of the young. “Today young people get a fixed income in rural areas; that is, they do not need to take risks in big cities. This constitutes a great victory for people: observing that their children are interested in sheep and goats, that they see a future in family farming and that they value associativism and cooperativism. All this shows that young people can work and earn their income from their territory and that women can take on all the challenges and positions they want”, says Francisca.

“Family farming has value. I have three children and, if they want it, they will work with sheep and goats within the cooperative, because the road is already open”, he is proud.

Fair

Thanks to the genetic improvement work carried out by the farmers with the help of the Association, today Betânia has a fair called “Capritânia”, where purebred animals are exhibited for cutting and exhibition. In addition to being a reference in the supply of animals for slaughter, Betânia has also become a reference in the supply of superior breeding animals.

“You arrive at the farmer's property and find that a young man manages the property together with his parents. Many times parents do not find a way to improve performance. Then, sons and daughters are called upon to help in the use of technology or in production. Many young people are training in administration, zootechnics and agriculture and livestock, thanks to the incentives offered by the Association”, explains Francisca.

Worldwide

With the help of the Viva el Semiarido Project, Francisca went to Africa and Europe to show the results of associativism and of Betânia, which she did at the International Forum of Relevant Territories for Sustainable Food Systems (FISAS). “After the birth of my children, traveling to Cameroon and Portugal in 2019 to talk about our work was one of the greatest emotions of my life. These are experiences that I will never forget in my life.” it states.

He comments that it was important to learn about other new realities, which stimulated the Association to adopt exchange practices in Betânia. Currently, the municipality receives consultants from all over the country and also from abroad interested in learning about the practices adopted in Betânia.

The dream of local producers is to install a slaughterhouse with a certified refrigerator in the municipality, which will allow Betânia to place its products in all supermarkets in Brazil: “This is our greatest dream and it is very close to being achieved. When the facility is ready, we will bring the best lamb meat to the entire country."

More information:
Institutional Communication Management: comunicacion.institucional@iica.int