Geovana Pagel*
São Paulo – The small city of Maracás, in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, with a population of little over 31,000 inhabitants, lived a problem that was very common among many Brazilian cities: unemployment and hunger. However, the city hall found an alternative that was possible according to the climate and to the soil of the semi arid region. Today, floriculture generates work and income for over 200 impoverished families in the city. The flowers planted include roses, sword lilies, gerberas, chrysanthemums, daisies and carnations. The families pick 60,000 flowers each month.
Ever since the Floriculture Development Program was created, in 1997, the Maracás city hall has won awards and international prominence. In 2000, Maracás was one of the 100 finalists of the Dubai Award for Best Practices in Local Development, selected among 530 cities registered worldwide. The award is given by Dubai Municipality, in the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat).
Among the other awards won by the floriculture product, special attention must be paid to the Entrepreneurial Mayor Award, given by the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), the Caixa Best Practices Award, organized by the Caixa Econômica Federal, a state-owned bank, Bahia Environmental Award, by the government of the state of Bahia, and the International Award for Municipal Management, given by the Brazilian Institute of Specialized Studies (Ibrae).
The mayor of Maracás, Nélson Luiz dos Anjos, explains that transforming the city into the city of flowers required guidance by specialists, willpower, training and great organization. "The mayor at the time, Fernando Carvalho, asked for support for technicians at Holambra, in São Paulo, another city famous for its flowers, and they travelled to Maracás, taught cultivation techniques, trained those involved and provided consultancy so that floriculture could develop in the city," he explained.
According to him, community associations were also created, including unemployed workers and other people from the city, who produce and trade the flowers.
Each family that is associated works on a 300 square metre plot of land, leased from the city hall, which also offers saplings, seeds, fertilizer and technical assistance. In this area, it is possible to generate an income of one minimum salary, approximately US$ 133, through flower cultivation. "Some farmers can even make around US$ 270 a month," stated the mayor.
The city also suggests that the residents plant flowers in their gardens. "This activity offers families a great opportunity for the generation of extra income," pointed out the mayor.
Floriculturists also receive support to store and trade production. The city hall sought support from ancient partners in the project, from the state government and the Sebrae/Bahia, to install cold storage chambers and purchase two chilled trucks adapted for the transport of flowers which are traded mainly in the cities of Salvador, Ilhéus, Feira de Santana, Itabuna and Jequié.
Contact
Maracás City Hall
Telephone: (+55 73) 3533.2121
*Translated by Mark Ament
