The West Region of Bahia is located on the west bank of the São Francisco River, at the far west of the State of Bahia. The Grande, Corrente and Carinhanha rivers flow through this region, which is the richest in water resources of all North-East Brazil. From a political and administrative viewpoint, it is subdivided in 39 municipalities. With a surface of 162.000 Km² and a population of about 800.000 people, it covers 28.5% of the territory and 6.2% of the population of the entire state.
The economy is predominantly based on agriculture and breeding. In the last two decades, soy cultivation, along with breeding, have defined new economical dynamics for the whole region, fostering the growth and development of three micro-regions (Barreiras, Santa Maria, Barra), the main one being Barreiras. The latter, comprising 16 municipalities, is nowadays considered the leading example of economical and social growth in the region, and is thus regarded as the Capital of West Region of Bahia.
Barreiras lies on the main axis of the lines of communications connecting the region with the other state capitals and the national Capital. Its strategic location has favored trades not only for export, but also for the provision of internal markets in the North, Northeast and Central-West of the Country. It shows the highest rate of growth and urban concentration in the West Region, with a high offer of manual labor. There is also the highest concentration of industrial and commercial activities, banks and infrastructures in the whole region; major enterprises also operate in this area. Thanks to a massive and well-diversified production of soy, coffee, cotton, fruit and cattle, this region offers all necessary conditions to attract an ever-increasing number of agroindustrial enterprises. Up to now, the leading products in the field have been the so-called Soy Complex (soy, bran, and oil).
The navigation of Rio Grande was fundamental in the growth of Barreiras. Ever since the beginning of the 17th century, a few explorers had reached the far end of the Rio Grande, to the point where large natural stone barriers prevent further navigation. In this point, the "Port of Barriers" was founded, which would later become the city and municipality of Barreiras.
Starting from the 19th century, cattle breeders penetrated the outback with the herds, building fazendas for the cattle, growing cereals, manioca and sugar cane, and spreading the cattle through the vast land constantly watered by numerous permanent rivers. Along the riverside and in the fertile valleys, the first subsistence cultivations appeared, laying the basis for the subsequent growth of the region, centred on agriculture and breeding. The valleys were coloured green by sugar cane, beans, corn, rice and manioca plantations, from which rapadura, manioca flour and brandy were produced. Farmers carried these products, as well as meat, on mules down to the port, and sold them to the merchant ships, thus favoring the development of local commerce.
Trades started to stabilize in the 1870's with the increase in the number of ships that passed by the port. This dramatically pushed economical growth in the area surrounding the port since, having the Europeans started to consume rubber, the latex market was increasing in size and importance. The native mangabeira tree, which was largely diffused in this area, is in fact an excellent lactiferous tree. Due to the high number of workers needed to extract latex, Barreiras knew the first major immigration cycle in its history. With rubber trading and the facilitations granted to the port for its exports, a large number of immigrants settled in the area, leading to a rapid growth in its economy and urbanization and to the subsequent establishment of São João village, which grew as a prosperous trade centre.
At its establishment in the area surrounding the port, the current city of Barreiras was called São João (St. John), to pay tribute to its patron saint. In the meanwhile, as the site had long been known as "Port of Barriers" (being the last navigable port on the Rio Grande), the city got the name of São João das Barreiras (St. John of the Barriers), later shortened in Barreiras after gaining political independence, on May 26th, 1891.
At the beginning of the 20th century, agriculture and breeding still followed a traditional approach, but the production of cotton and mamona (exported au naturel or treated to produce oil) was emerging. Up to the 1970's, the whole region was exploited by extensive breeding and family-based agriculture activities, which were present especially in the valleys. Economy was strongly based on the model of latifundium, with a few landowners possessing large estates, a great political power, and all the privileges associated with wealth.
In the early 1970's, in order to impose a different economical model, the Federal and National Government traced new political guidelines to better integrate the region in the national context, giving impulse to a vast program of reforms to promote economical growth. Such program relied on public investments in infrastructures, communications, energy, research and technology and financial support.
In that period the 4th Engineering and Constructions Battalion came to Barreiras to build a tract of the BR 020 interstate, connecting Barreiras to Brasilia, and finish the BR 242 interstate from Barreiras to Ibotirama, finally connecting the city to Salvador by means of a paved road. Barreiras could finally put an end to its isolation from the rest of the country. Connected to Salvador, Capital of the State of Bahia, and Brasilia, the National Capital, and other major centres of the northern littoral through paved roads, the privileged position of the city was definitely confirmed, and it became an important centre of communications between the Northern, Northeastern and Central-Western regions.
Starting from the 1980's, grain-like cultivations became possible. In particular, soy cultivation, along with modernized extensive and semi-intensive breeding, gave impulse to a new economical reality in the region. Pioneers in agriculture introduced rice and soy cultivation, enabling a sustainable exploitation of the agricultural resources of vast, yet uncultivated pieces of land. This process was further expanded by the availability of low-cost land that attracted many farmers in the area.
The success of soy and similar cultivations was crucial for the development and the diversification of agricultural activities, increasing at an annual rate of 10% throughout the 1990's. Nowadays, cultivations such as soy, corn, beans, rice, cotton, coffee and fruit, along with breeding, still allow the continuity of sustainable development, and Barreiras has definitely assumed its role as the leading urban and economical centre of this region.
With 112 years of political emancipation, and around 135.000 inhabitants over an area of 8.617 km², the city has rapidly grown, not only thanks to the introduction of soy, but also due to the enormous number of immigrants attracted by the many opportunities offered by the new urban site. Immigration from rural areas towards urban and industrial districts is also an established reality, as many families are abandoning the countryside attracted by the expectation of a higher standard of life in the city. Unfortunately, in many cases the dream for a better life rapidly becomes a nightmare of unemployment, hunger and violence. In these situations, each member of the family, including children, becomes responsible for its relief.
While mapping the streets of Barreiras, we registered around 2.000 children and adolescents sent in the street to sell ice creams, polish shoes, check on cars, beg for money or simply left wandering around. They are thus exposed to all kinds of social risk, like drugs, sexual abuse, small thefts and all the temptations that a life on the street can offer.
With the aid of the Cata-Vento projects, we can change the life of the children, and of their families as well. We can help parents realize that a different way of living through childhood, out of the street, is possible. Children and adolescents are often exploited not only by strangers, but also by their very relatives. The Cata-Vento projects seek to transform this reality and help them discover a new way of living.