Biofertilizers: An Alternative for Sustainable Agriculture in the Amazon Region

Abstract

Agricultural production plays a strategic role in Amazon, since it has economic and food-growing importance, but also represents a great highlight in the cultural and social scenarios. However, such theme still faces some challenges regarding the development of alternative methods capable of achieving sustainable productions, with quality and quantity, and yet with no harm to the natural resources. The Trichoderma fungus has become significant as a biological agent in agricultural species, presenting considerable answers to the development and protection of vegetables, and has also guaranteed the environmental preservation and food safety. Such issues considered, this study intends to guide small agricultural producers about the usage of Trichoderma fungi, emphasizing the agricultural species cultivation. The university extension program took place in four communities promoting workshops about the usage of the Trichoderma and other alternative biofertilizers. Each community was interviewed in an attempt to identify the main difficulties regarding a sustainable agricultural production. As a result, 75% of the communities still used chemicals in their fertilizing and plague control processes and did not use biological-origin products due to the lack of information on where to obtain them and how to use such items; only 25% had alternatives of biological defensives and merely 5% had any knowledge about the usage of biofertilizers like Trichoderma. Such findings evidence it is necessary to continue the extension program actions, focusing on their improvement and expansion, since they benefit society, economy and the environment of the Amazon region.