Program rewards rural projects and boosts entrepreneurship in the countryside

During a virtual event this Wednesday (08/12), Japan Tobacco International (JTI) announced the winners of the 6th edition of the Youth Award Rural Entrepreneur, who encourages young people to develop projects focused on agricultural activities. The best win prizes in money so that they can be implemented as an incentive for succession rural.

This year, in addition to students from Escola Família Agrícola competing of Santa Cruz do Sul (EFASC), Vale do Sol Agricultural Family School (EFASOL) and Instituto Crescer Legal (ICL), Casa Rural Family (CFR) of São Mateus do Sul/Paraná, expanding the program and creating opportunities for young people from other regions to participate.

The objective of the initiative is to support graduates of these institutions teaching so that they can carry out projects developed during the training/course, rewarding in kind those who are aligned with entrepreneurial activities of plant and animal production, and that can positively impact young people’s families and communities, including income generation.

In total, 14 projects were awarded, 13 in the category individual, with values ​​of R$4 thousand, and one in the community category association, worth R$6 thousand. With the financial assistance of the awards it is possible to invest in or make improvements to existing projects.

Chosen by a JTI panel, some requirements were evaluated: viability, relevance, innovation, sustainability and possibility of replication of work. “We think about the sustainability of the sector as a and this connection between schools and young people is very strong, because even After graduating, graduates continue to hold meetings to share their experiences”, explains Marinês Kittel, supervisor of JTI social projects.

Entrepreneurial family

Among these projects, the Lawish property, located in Boa Vista, district of Santa Cruz do Sul (RS), was one of those included in the associative community category. For 30 years, the family has been producing molasses on the property, work that is now in its third generation.

“My paternal grandfather, Francisco Lawish, started producing molasses for own consumption and, around 15 years ago, my parents, Renato and Neli, took over production. Since then I have learned a lot from them and increasingly interested in this activity”, says young Juliano Lawish, who presented the project during the awards ceremony.

EFASC provided Juliano with participation in the pedagogical fair and After graduating, together with some students, the Feira group was created Young man, who opened the doors to commercialize what had been produced on the property. “EFASC did not produce molasses, however I learned new techniques for growing sugarcane and we started making rapadura and push-pull to sell”.

With the prize amount, it will be possible to purchase a molasses whisk, essential equipment used in the sector's agro-industries. Julian explains that after cooking the sugar cane juice, it is necessary work with a spatula until it cools and becomes lighter in color.

“Currently this process takes around 45 minutes. Is enough tiring. By purchasing the molasses whisk, it will make it easier and speed up the process, in addition to providing more quality. Furthermore, with the electronic scale, weighing will be more accurate at the time of commercialization”, he celebrates.

Marinês also reinforces that, even with the consolidation of the program, the engagement and partnership of school coordination and management is essential to assist in dissemination and encouragement, thus creating each increasing adherence among students and consequently causing more projects become reality and the program stays alive.