A WOMAN'S RESILIENCE
BEARS FRUIT
Sandra Zanardi
creates a vision
for her orange
grove in Brazil
Solidaridad’s support for women, like Sandra Zanardi, makes the agricultural sector in Brazil more responsible, sustainable and productive. Photo credit: Microsoft
Solidaridad’s support for women, like Sandra Zanardi, makes the agricultural sector in Brazil more responsible, sustainable and productive. Photo credit: Microsoft
Sandra Zanardi never saw herself as an orange farmer, but after the death of her husband, she took the reins of her family’s orange grove in Brazil. Now, with support from Solidaridad’s Fruto Resiliente project, Sandra has improved her farm’s performance and is set to reap a plentiful harvest. In the process, she has created a vibrant new future for herself and her children.
At 45 years of age, Sandra Zanardi has transformed herself into a visionary orange grove farmer. While her trees did not bear fruit in 2021, she is preparing to harvest nearly ten thousand boxes of oranges in 2023 thanks in part to Solidaridad’s support.
Good agricultural practices have led to increased productivity on her farm, but Sandra knows that her long-term success depends on needed investments in training and equipment. Her vision for a future goes beyond simply providing a basic income in the present; she has included her children in the orange grove and in the family business to ensure future generations will reap the benefits of her hard work.
Since 2022, Sandra has participated in the Solidaridad project, Fruto Resiliente: Strengthening a Sustainable Production of Oranges. The project’s main goal is to provide technical assistance and support family agriculture throughout the ‘Citrus belt’ of Brazil. Field technician Selma Coelho first brought the programme to Sandra’s attention, and the two women forged a strong bond.
"It was Selma’s visit which gave me the confidence and encouraged me to join the project."
Image captions
Image 1Sandra accepted field technician Selma Coelho’s invitation to join the Resilient Fruit project. Photo credit: Microsoft
Sandra accepted field technician Selma Coelho’s invitation to join the Resilient Fruit project. Photo credit: Microsoft
Sandra accepted field technician Selma Coelho’s invitation to join the Resilient Fruit project. Photo credit: Microsoft
Increasing opportunity for women farmers
Selma has worked hard to increase women’s participation in the project. Her expertise in the field and her skills as a facilitator were deciding factors when Sandra when she decided to join the programme. As she describes her relationship with Sandra, Selma says, "I encourage and challenge her, so that she feels capable and motivated to improve. Every step she climbs towards a better management of her farm makes her feel stronger."
In fact, taking over the orange production on her family’s farm was not an easy task. While Sandra has lived in Mogi Guaçu for more than 20 years, it was her husband who was in charge of the orange cultivation. Sandra spent her time as taking care of the family. However, in 2021, her partner died from COVID-19, and without any previous experience she took charge of the family business.
“I had the courage to take over the orchard, but didn’t know how. The first time I joined one of the trainings organized by Solidaridad, I learned many new things. I was very satisfied.”
Orange production has become more than a source of income, it now holds the promise of a sustainable future for Sandra and her family. Photo credit: Microsoft
Orange production has become more than a source of income, it now holds the promise of a sustainable future for Sandra and her family. Photo credit: Microsoft
Slowly, as she participated in Solidaridad’s sponsored training and worked with Selma, Sandra started to define her action plan. She quickly improved her production techniques and learned to safely handle agro-chemicals. For many farmers the chemicals used in the cultivation of oranges pose an ongoing health threat.
Sandra is committed to practices that protect the orchard, her workers and her own family. Sandra has created a set-aside area for chemical storage, she insisted that staff wear the mandatory personal protective equipment and prepare products for crop care in places with concrete floors, and she now hangs safety signage in places where agro-chemicals are stored and handled.
ABOUT FRUTO RESILIENTE
Three out of every five glasses of orange juice are produced in Brazil. The country is the world’s biggest fruit grower and the largest exporter of juice. The project, Fruto Resiliente: Strengthening a Sustainable Orange Production, currently supports more than 300 farming families who have embraced the programme and its results.
Orange growers receive individual attention and group training which covers the many stages of orange production. With the support of local partners, trained agronomists provide technical assistance in order to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of this educational outreach.
The initiative is on track to reach 500 families by the end of 2024. One of its main goals is to bring orange farms into compliance with current Brazilian legislation, while also meeting international sustainability standards. The project is a pre-competitive initiative developed between the following partners from the juice and beverages sector: Cutrale, The Coca-cola Company, Coca-Cola Foundation, Innocent Drinks and Eckes-Granini.
Sandra Zanardi (left) and Solidaridad Field Technician Selma Coelho meet at Sandra's home.
Sandra Zanardi (left) and Solidaridad Field Technician Selma Coelho meet at Sandra's home.
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