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The Circular Gardens Project in Minas Gerais Transforms the Field, Joining Sustainability, Food Security, and New Economic Opportunities for Farming Families in the State
The circular gardens in Minas Gerais have stood out as an innovative alternative for family farmers, combining sustainability, water use efficiency, and local income generation, according to a report published.
Developed by the Minas Gerais Agricultural Research Company (Epamig), the initiative is part of the project “Expansion and Strengthening of the Productive Chain of Rice in Minas Gerais,” funded by the Minas Gerais Research Support Foundation (Fapemig).
Focusing on food security and productive diversification, the circular model transforms small rural areas into sources of food, income, and collective learning, contributing to the regional economy and the environment.
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While Russia dominates the global wheat market, Brazil emerges as an unexpected competitor in the Cerrado, offering grain available in July and August when stocks in the Northern Hemisphere are at their lowest point of the year.
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China returned almost 20 Brazilian ships with soybeans, but now everything could change: the country that buys 80% of the grain is considering relaxing regulations after impurities held up shipments of thousands of tons and caused million-dollar losses.
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The drought of the cerrado was considered an enemy of wheat, but Brazilian scientists turned the lack of rain into a competitive advantage by creating a grain with quality that is already attracting the attention of international mills around the world.
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THE OWNER of Brazil: a farmer who came from laundries, created an ’empire’ and today runs a company valued at R$ 42 billion after tripling its value in less than a year and receiving a billion-dollar investment from the USA.
The proposal from Epamig is simple and ingenious: to implement gardens in a circular format, respecting the natural terrain and contour lines.
This arrangement allows rainwater or irrigation to remain within the structure, reducing losses and preventing erosion.
The result is a more productive cultivation system, with lower water consumption and easier maintenance.
The project of circular gardens in Minas Gerais also includes technical support and training for farmers, ensuring that the knowledge gained multiplies in other communities.
Rural Sustainability and Smart Irrigation Strengthen Family Agriculture
In the participating municipalities, the partnership among Epamig, Emater, and the city halls has been essential for the success of the circular gardens in Minas Gerais.
In Perdões, in the southern part of the state, seven demonstration units of rice and six circular gardens are underway.
The Secretary of Agriculture, Luciana Arriel, highlights that three gardens are already producing and another three are in implementation, expanding job and income opportunities for local families.
In addition to supplying the National School Feeding Program (PNAE), the producers sell surpluses at fairs and community associations.
The circular format also benefits pest control, as the design promotes moisture balance and the development of natural enemies, such as predatory insects.
For farmers Dulcineia Carvalho Ribeiro da Silva and Wilson Antônio Ferreira da Silva, the model brought immediate gains. “The plants became more beautiful and irrigation became easier to manage,” report the producers, who plan to expand cultivation to other areas of the property.
Circular Gardens in Minas Gerais: Agroecology and Food Security Transform Minas Rural Communities
The work of the circular gardens in Minas Gerais goes beyond production and reaches the social aspect. One example is the Vida Nova Project in Perdões, which serves 85 children and teenagers in situations of vulnerability.
The garden established on-site produces beets, lettuce, and other vegetables that complement the young people’s diet.
According to the director Cleuza Maria Augusto Oliveira, the production contributes to more nutritious meals, reinforcing the project’s educational and sustainable role.
The researcher Polyanna Oliveira, a member of the Epamig team, explains that the type of cultivation is flexible and can accommodate vegetables, legumes, and fruits, depending on the availability of water and space.
Coordinators Janine Guedes emphasizes that the agroecological system is replicable and adaptable, representing a low-cost solution for strengthening family agriculture.
The utilization of by-products is also a differential: the straw from the rice cultivated in the demonstration units is reused as natural fertilizer, rich in nitrogen, reducing the need for chemical inputs.
Agricultural Expansion with Positive Impact on the Local Economy and the Environment
In addition to fostering sustainable production, the circular gardens in Minas Gerais boost the rural economy.
The integration with highland rice cultivation creates an efficient production cycle, where agricultural residues transform into nutrients.
The planting of the new units in Perdões is scheduled for November, with seven experimental areas, some dedicated exclusively to rice and others in consortium with coffee.
This combination enriches the soil, diversifies production, and expands marketing opportunities for farmers.
The project demonstrates that innovation and tradition can walk together. By uniting smart irrigation techniques, agroecological practices, and social inclusion, the circular gardens establish themselves as a sustainable rural development model.
Thanks to the integrated actions of public bodies, researchers, and local producers, the circular gardens in Minas Gerais are transforming the landscape of the field and offering new income and food security perspectives for hundreds of families.
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