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According to ASN Paraíba, Inara Souza began reorganizing Fazenda Nova Boa Vista in Monte Horebe in 2021, focusing on organic fruits, irrigation, IBD certification, and technical planning. The production totaled 24 tons of yellow melon and watermelon, with support from Sebrae/PB in the semi-arid region of Paraíba and a focus on sustainability.
Organic fruits became the new production axis of Fazenda Nova Boa Vista, in the rural area of Monte Horebe, in the high hinterland of Paraíba, after Inara Souza left São Paulo to help her father, José Dias de Souza, then 88 years old, in managing the family property.
According to the Paraíba Sebrae News Agency, the change began in 2021 and gained momentum from 2022, when fruit growing started to take space in a farm historically linked to cassava and cattle breeding.
Family farm changed the focus of production
Fazenda Nova Boa Vista has belonged to the family since the decade of 1930. According to the ASN Paraíba report, the place had its traditional activities linked to cassava cultivation and cattle breeding before the more structured entry into yellow melon and watermelon cultivation.
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Inara Souza explained to the source that she began researching alternatives upon arriving in Paraíba to help her father in managing the area. The choice for fruit growing came as a strategy of productive reorganization, not as a break with the property’s history.
Cultivation began with analysis, planning, and irrigation
The organic fruit project started in an area of two hectares and, according to the entrepreneur, currently occupies almost double the initial land. The first step was to analyze the property and set up a viable plan for each stage of production.
As the region is in the semi-arid, with high temperatures and little rainfall, irrigation became an essential part of the process. Fazenda Nova Boa Vista has an area of 111 hectares, reservoirs like a dam, and an irrigation system aimed at production control.
Organic certification opened the way for commercialization
The decision to produce without pesticides led Inara to seek IBD certification, which certifies the product as organic for commercialization. According to ASN Paraíba, the farm’s history of not using chemicals in other crops helped in this process.
The certification became a differentiator for positioning organic fruits in the market. Instead of just selling raw agricultural production, the project started working with origin, cultivation method, and commercialization standards.
Melon and watermelon totaled 24 tons
The Nova Boa Vista Farm recorded harvests in 2022 and 2023. During this period, according to the source, 18 tons of yellow melon and six tons of watermelon were harvested, totaling 24 tons.
Part of the fruits was destined for commercial establishments in the Paraíba territory, while another portion went to states like São Paulo and Paraná. The result showed that production from the semi-arid region could reach markets beyond the immediate surroundings of the farm.
Sebrae/PB accompanied the project’s structuring
The project is accompanied by Sebrae/PB. Inara told ASN Paraíba that the support helped understand the size of the production, the possibilities of distribution, and the importance of organic certification in the relationship with buyers and investors.
Technical analyst Fabrício Vitorino has been following the initiative since the initial phase. According to him, the project required technical studies, planning, consultancies, and guidance to ensure the cultivation followed national legislation standards.
Horticulture entered as a new stage of the farm
In addition to yellow melon and watermelon, the property adopted the practice of horticulture in 2024. The production began to include items such as cilantro, lettuce, beetroot, okra, carrot, cassava, and sweet potato for commercial establishments in the region.
This diversification helps reduce dependence on a single crop. At the same time, it keeps the Nova Boa Vista Farm connected to food cultivation, strengthening the productive use of the land with different agricultural cycles.
New melon harvest is in preparation
At the time described by ASN Paraíba, the production of yellow melon was in the soil preparation phase. The expectation reported in the article was for a new harvest between 18 and 20 tons.
This data shows that the experience was not limited to a successful first harvest. The project began to operate with continuity planning, combining irrigation, soil preparation, certification, and technical monitoring.
Award recognized the rural producer in 2025
The business developed by Inara Souza was highlighted in the Sebrae Business Woman Award 2025. The initiative won first place in Paraíba in the Rural Producer category.
The award ceremony took place in August 2025, during the Entrepreneur Fair, in Campina Grande. According to ASN Paraíba, 12 businesswomen were awarded in five categories, focusing on female entrepreneurship, innovation, future vision, strategy, and business management.
What the experience shows about the semi-arid
The trajectory of Fazenda Nova Boa Vista shows that the semi-arid can host productive projects when there is a correct understanding of the territory, planned water use, technical assistance, and commercial strategy. The case does not eliminate the challenges of agriculture, but it shows a path based on method.
The question that remains is direct: how many family properties could gain new use with irrigation, certification, and planning, instead of relying solely on traditional crops? Do you think organic fruits can become a stronger alternative for the Brazilian semi-arid? Leave your opinion in the comments.
