Parque Madureira will have the largest urban vegetable garden in the world

The goal is to guarantee production capable of supplying another 50 thousand families in the region, per harvest, until 2024 - Beth Santos/City Hall

Mayor Eduardo Paes, the Municipal Secretary of the Environment, Eduardo Cavaliere, and the Sub-Mayor of the North Zone, Diego Vaz, announced this Tuesday (September 28th) the expansion of vegetable cultivation on land belonging to the City Hall, along the railway line in Madureira Park. Still in 2022, the space will host what will be the largest urban garden in the world, with 110 square meters.

– It’s good for us to give back this personal subsistence, this means a question of urban agriculture, which is a very important topic nowadays. It has to do with social sustainability, with generating income for the families here. We have to continue valuing this space – highlighted Paes.

The main objective is to generate income and food security for 50 low-income families, per harvest, until 2024. In addition to having a green corridor of vegetables along Parque Madureira to Guadalupe, in a partnership with Embrapa and Light, because part of the crops are under the company's towers.

The new garden restores a historical agricultural vocation of Madureira and neighboring neighborhoods. A memorial alluding to the former residents of the area – the “Quilombo Agrícola Madureira” – will be erected at the entrance to the garden. This tribute meets a demand from the region’s cultural sector.

– The idea is for visitors to learn about the history of this region, which is an agricultural production center for the Madureira Market and other markets. Strengthening Rio’s agriculture is the path to a more egalitarian city – said Cavaliere.

 

Hortas Cariocas, a program run by the Municipal Department of the Environment, produces approximately 82 tons of crops per year. Throughout the city, the program covers 3.720 garden plots, with 24 hectares of cultivated areas, in 25 schools and 24 communities. Cassava, chives, coriander and basil are among the most produced foods. In total, 220 gardeners and mint growers receive grants to maintain their production.

– We dreamed together, Cavaliere. It's an incredible initiative. We took an existing project and improved it. We have to 'matureize' Rio. It's about rescuing suburban pride – said the deputy mayor of the North Zone, Diego Vaz.

With over 90 thousand square meters, Parque Madureira was inaugurated by Mayor Eduardo Paes in June 2012 and has become the main leisure area in the region, attracting samba, skateboarding, hip hop and charm crowds, as well as families and friends who use the space to practice physical activities, walk, meet up or contemplate the beauty of the place.

Also participating in the event were the Secretaries of Education, Renan Ferreirinha, Infrastructure, Jorge Arraes, Culture, Marcus Faustini, and Women, Joyce Trindade.