The Willimon Center, Serras region, Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land (TIRSS), donated seeds of various types of beans to the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR). The goal is for the seeds to be distributed in other communities to strengthen traditional agriculture among the indigenous peoples of Roraima.
The donation of nine types of bean seeds took place during a visit by the CIR coordinator, Enock Taurepang to the Willimon Center. The communities shared nine types of Creole beans: goma beans, manteguinha, jaulão, Gurugutuba, cowpea, forty days, ox blood, reybym and corujinha.
According to Kelliane Wapichana, indigenous territorial manager of the CIR's Environmental Department, the seeds will be distributed among different regions. She stressed the importance of actions of this type to strengthen agriculture and the autonomy of communities.
"Initiatives like these are important to strengthen traditional production and value native seeds, being essential to keep these varieties alive and stimulate a network of exchanges and the implementation of a seed bank in the communities".
With organic food production,the Willimon Center has expanded its planting areas and invested in family farming,aiming at autonomy and sustainability. In August, the coordination of the CIR visited the region to get to know the gardens and in September the visits continue in the other regions.