Conhecimento e consumo de plantas alimentícias em cinco comunidades da reserva de desenvolvimento sustentável Piagaçu-Purus, Amazonas

Abstract

Food habits studies in the Amazon emphasizes the consumption of fish and farinha (manioc flour) as basic diet in different groups, while vegetables, mainly fruits, are consumed sporadically and seasonally. In a scenario of nutritional transition, with insertion of industrialized food in the diet, traditional food and consumption of regional products have undergone transformations, affecting health, autonomy and the lifestyle of traditional populations. Ethnobotanical studies tend to equalize theoretical knowledge and use of plants, but these are not always synonyms. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the theoretical knowledge and the actual consumption of food plants in riparian communities of the Piagaçu-Purus Sustainable Development Reserve. The level of access and sociocultural characteristics of the communities were considered, as well as the hydrological seasons of the Purus River. We interviewed 288 residents of the five communities with age between 4 and 86 years with free lists and 24 hours diet recall. The survey of the botanical knowledge demonstrates a rich knowledge of food plants, with 220 identified species, nevertheless, there is still a food monotony, with little consumption of all plant knowledge. The consumption of plants is more diverse in the wet season, possibly due to the easier access to areas of flooded forest, besides the local agricultural dynamics and the forest seasonality. Food monotony and dependency on external resources for feeding are threats to food security for some communities. Although seasonal, the consumption of known and culturally accepted plants can be intensified with the adoption of agroecological principles such as the diversification of agricultural fields; greater participation of women in agricultural and food decision-making; and appreciation of traditional cuisine and regional food ingredients.