E. Craig, L. Falco and L. Sabatte

In: UA Magazine 7 - Economic Aspects of Urban Agriculture

The horticultural and ornamental plant production sector of the district of Moreno in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is strategically located in an urban area with direct access to the major markets of the country. Horticultural producers predominantly belong to the Bolivian colony, with scarce income, using own labour, living in extremely substandard housing. They have recently established a Local Commercialisation Market with the institutional support of the Moreno Municipal Institute of Local Economic Development (IMDEL). Growers of ornamental plants are mostly from the Japanese (herbs) and Italian (trees and shrubs) communities, who are capable of undertaking larger capital investments in their operations. They have established a local association and in 2001 organised the first Exhibit of Plants and Cut Flowers of Moreno. Both groups of producers have benefited from the National Employment Emergency Plan. IMDEL offered the producers micro-credits at low rates. The experiences are described here.