The Chapadinha region is located in the east of the state of Maranhão and comprises 9 municipalities, namely: Anapurus, Belágua, Brejo, Buriti, Chapadinha, Mata Roma, Milagres do Maranhão, São Benedito do Rio Preto and Urbano Santos, which are fully inserted in the Cerrado biome. This region has 1 million hectares (9% of the territory of the state), of which 79% are covered by native vegetation. About 94 thousand hectares are occupied by agriculture (0.9% of the total), of which 76% are temporary crops, mainly soybeans (48 thousand hectares).

In general, the largest productions are soybeans and cassava in this region, with 142 thousand and 26 thousand tons produced in 2019, respectively. Family farming in this territory mainly produces cassava and rice. Considering the profile of the family producing units, it can be observed that temporary crops (52%) represent the activity that generates the largest number of occupations in agriculture, followed by the raising of small and large animals (38%) and the management of natural forests (6%), as in the case of babassu coconut extraction and charcoal production.

The Chapadinha 2050 Sustainable Strategy is a long-term plan for the eastern territory of the state of Maranhão, built from the perspective of local actors. This structure is guided by social, economic, productive, environmental and governance aspects. Thus, the protagonists of the territory understand that the development of jurisdiction should not be done in a disorderly way and should have a compass. Therefore, the CDR acts, positions itself and articulates itself to promote food production and local productive arrangements to generate income and employment opportunities, as well as to conserve and protect the environment and its natural resources, building a smarter, more prosperous, more prosperous jurisdiction. equitable, healthy, resilient and sustainable.

This initiative is conducted by the CDR – Rural Development Committee of the Chapadinha region. Created in November 2019, it was created from the union and collective effort of territorial actors linked, directly and indirectly, to agricultural and extractive activities in the region of Chapadinha - MA. It is an example of dialogue, articulating and promoting local agricultural productive arrangements, with a regional character, focused on income generation and based on sustainability.

Rural Development Committee of the Chapadinha Region has the following attributions:

• Compile and disseminate strategic information for agricultural and extractive production;

• Develop, support, articulate and disseminate sustainable production initiatives, programs and projects;

• Collaborate in production in an organized and sustainable way to serve the market in the region,

generating income opportunities for local farmers;

• Support, articulate and strengthen the partnership between rural producers, public institutions, companies, private companies, non-governmental organizations, among other organizations aligned with the purposes of this Committee;

• Propose and articulate the promotion of solutions for local productive arrangements and sustainable and supportive rural development.