Ecological farmers from five towns in Alto Uruguai, in the States of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, participate of a Program which’s objective is to include tourism in their activities.

     The proposal is to promote the ecological production of food and raise in about 30% the families’ incomes. Tourist activities are being prepared in order to offer visitors the experience in agriculture and ecology in the properties.

     As a result, from February 2007 on, tourists and local inhabitants that already profit thermal water parks will have the opportunity to taste ecological products and to participate in leisure and educational activities in the different properties assisted by the Program.

     The Program for Ecological Familiar Agriculture is financially supported by the Ministry of Agrarian Development (MDA). This initiative was created by COODESTUR exclusively for the cities and towns located in the board of Itá’s barrage: Concórdia and Itá, in Santa Catarina, and Aratiba, Severiano de Almeida, Três Arroios and Mariano Moro, in Rio Grande do Sul.