Rural producers served by the Technical and Management Assistance (ATEG) of the Espírito Santo National Rural Learning Service (Senar-ES) won the Biguá Sustainability Award promoted by Rede Gazeta. Roque Rocha won first place, in the rural producer category in the North, and Lauro Nóia, first place in the South of the State.

Producer Roque Rocha, from São Mateus, presented his work “Recovery of degraded areas for the implementation of an Agroforestry system”. On his property, after the soil had been restored, he planted rubber trees intercropped with black pepper and cocoa.

“My production of black pepper has been so successful that it alone, in addition to paying its production costs, is still able to pay the costs of producing cocoa and rubber. This award brought the feeling of recognition of our work. The award is not mine alone. I dedicate it to all farmers in Brazil,” said Roque.

The “Sustainable soil management and conservation of the Nóia Filho site” project, by producer Lauro Nóia, from Iúna, won the Biguá Award in the south of Espírito Santo. He built terraces to control erosion and to offer better working conditions in the uneven terrain of his property and, after a few months, he began planting coffee intercropped with native and fruit trees.

Sustainability is part of Senar’s Technical and Managerial Assistance methodology, encouraging socially fair, ecologically correct, economically viable, and culturally diverse projects for all participating rural properties.