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Most of the farm families who settled Western Bahia are of German, Northern Italian and Japanese heritage from Brazil's southern states of Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná.
The farm families
in the area have a strong sense of community. They cooperate
in building and maintaining farm roads, and get together at
agricultural field days and other community events.
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Living in rural Western Bahia is similar to living in a rural area of the US or Canada. Many farm families live on their farms. Distances are great and families with school-age children often live in Barreiras or Luis Eduardo Magalhães to be closer to schools. |
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Farmsteads are similar to those in the US Corn and Wheat Belt states. Farms have an owner's home (photo at left) plus housing and dining facilities for workers. Farms without electrical power use diesel generators, but power lines are being brought in throughout the area. Within a few years, most farmsteads in Western Bahia will be served by electrical power. |
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Many farmsteads have grain storage and handling facilities. This farm has a grain cleaning and bagging operation. All of the rice and edible beans produced on the farm are cleaned and bagged to add value then hauled to market by the owner's own fleet of trucks. |
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Most farms have large machine
and equipment sheds and many have complete farm shops. Larger
farms often employ a crew of skilled mechanics and mechanical
specialists to maintain and service equipment. During seasonal
periods, tractors are running day and night. It is common for
tractors to accumulate 2,500 hours or more per year. |
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Luis Eduardo Magalhães
(LEM) has displaced Barreiras as the principal economic center
in Western Bahia. It has good schools, clinics, hospitals and
the private sector provides a complete array of services.
All of the major
machinery and equipment manufacturers have dealerships or
representatives in LEM and Barreiras. Suppliers of inputs
such as fertilizers, agricultural chemicals and fuel are also
well represented.
Although Barreiras (see photo at left) is no longer the principal
economic center for the region, it still bustles with activity.
It has a large farmer's market open daily except Sunday, and
several super markets. Hundreds of shops sell clothing, appliances,
furniture, cellular telephones, satellite TV systems and other
consumer items.
Downtown Barreiras is also the center for many professional offices--lawyers, doctors, dentists, agricultural consultants and etc.
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Urban homes in Western
Bahia are comfortable and modern. New four-bedroom, three-bath
homes of 300 to 350 square meters (3,000 to 3,500 sq. ft) are
available from US$150,000 to US$200,000. |
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The homes in the photo
above and at left are in Luis Eduardo Magalhães, a rapidly
growing town 90 kilometers west of Barreiras.
Homes do not have or need heating systems, and few homes have or need air conditioning. Homes with satellite TV have access to all major Brazilian, North American, European and international channels.
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