Grower Story
Airton Marioti
Cassava farmer Airton Marioti, has farmed Brazil’s tropical Parana region all his life, shifting his crops to accommodate changing market conditions. Previously, Airton grew organic soybeans. But in recent years, he made some changes. He devoted a third of his family’s nine-hectare farm to corn, another third to grass to feed his beef cattle, and the remaining third to organic cassava, a root vegetable also known as manioc or yuca.
Cassava is considered a one-year crop in Brazil’s hot and hilly terrain. Planting is typically done in September and requires at least eight months before harvest. Yields peak between eight and eighteen months, when roots are fully developed, and bring twice the price of corn.
Airton’s crop includes two different types of cassava. The large-leafed plant contains less starch and is grown for the fresh market. The smaller-leafed plant, which has a higher starch content, is sold to a nearby organic supplier he has worked with for the past nine years. There, it is processed into food starch, tapioca, or cassava meal, also called farinha, which is a diet staple in the region.
On a typical day, Airton leaves his home in the city of Realeza in the early morning and rides his motorcycle to the farm to manage the day’s tasks. When plants are small, he uses a weeding machine attached to a tractor to keep the fields clear. Days are much longer during planting and harvesting seasons, a challenge his family used to tackle together. However, farm work eventually left his wife with injuries that ended her ability to help. His son now works full-time job in his uncle’s bike shop, and his daughter is studying at the university. His grandson sometimes helps on the farm, but Airton is still short-handed during the busy seasons. Today, during peak times, he contracts with farm workers referred through his supply partner.
For now, Airton plans to keep improving the land by reducing erosion and incorporating more organic fertilizers to improve production. And while he feels his farm is manageable for now, he can foresee a time when he’ll need more help. “In my heart, I want to stay farming,” he said. He hopes that his grandson will maintain his interest and someday take control.