Economic Reactivation: The delivery of greenhouses for those affected by fires in southern Chile has begun.

The program consists of 300 projects promoted by CMPC and the Biobío Agricultural Society, which seeks to support families in the Biobío and La Araucanía Regions in south-central Chile who were affected by last season’s fires.

Hundreds of families in rural areas of the regions of Biobío and La Araucanía in south-central Chile had a very difficult time with the fires that happened last February, which affected a total of 431 thousand hectares and left 26 dead. A significant number lost their crops, agricultural machinery, warehouses and homes.

To support these families affected by the fires, a strategic alliance was set up between CMPC and Socabío, the Biobío Agricultural Society. The economic reactivation program spans 300 projects through four lines of development: construction of chicken coops, greenhouses, warehouses and hectares of land turned into pasture.

“We realized, in parallel to the work we did during the emergency, that we had to support the entrepreneurship of small farmers who were affected by this catastrophe. So, together with Socabío and in collaboration with different organizations in the regions, we are making these contributions to help the family economy by implementing various projects,” said Carlos Rodríguez, CMPC’s Community Relations Deputy Manager.

“The aid materialized with the provision of support units or kits; for example, the installation of 69 greenhouses. These come with a pack of seven types of vegetable seeds, plus certified fertilizers so that they can feed the soils. In the case of grasslands and wheat, the respective module or kit includes soil preparation, planting, certified seed and associated fertilizers,” added agronomist José Bernedo, coordinator of the rural reactivation program.

First greenhouse in Mulchén

The family of Mariana Cabeza, from the Selva Negra area in the Mulchén district – Biobío Region – experienced some dramatic moments last February. She, her husband, and son had to be evacuated due to the uncontrolled advance of the flames. Even her house was in danger of being destroyed. “It was saved more than anything by a fire brigade that arrived and stayed to protect the house because we had to evacuate. We had to leave, so the forest firefighters were the ones who saved the house, otherwise it would have burned down,” Mariana explained. However, the local environment was totally destroyed, which limited the normal agricultural development.

Thanks to the program, she received a modular greenhouse, seeds and fertilizer in order to plant vegetables. “Having this greenhouse that they have given me provides us with an additional work tool, so we can grow a lot for our own consumption and some of it we’ll even be able to sell. We’ll get some saleable product from the greenhouse,” said Mariana Cabeza.

Each of the 300 approved projects will benefit families from a dozen districts in the Biobío and La Araucanía Regions. The first kits were delivered in May, and the provision or donation of all of the aid kits is expected to be done in September.