Rio Rufino emerges as a major Brazilian hub for wicker production

Rio Rufino, recognized as the ‘Capital Catarinense do Vime’ since 2004, has established itself as a major hub for wicker production in Brazil. The municipality is a key player in a regional industry where the Serra Catarinense region accounts for approximately 90% of the national production.

According to data from the Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária e Extensão Rural de Santa Catarina (Epagri), the wicker production in the Serra Catarinense area involves over 1,200 rural producers across several municipalities, including Rio Rufino, Bocaina do Sul, Bom Retiro, Urubici, Urupema, Painel, and Lages. This collective effort covers at least 1,215 hectares with an estimated annual production of 15,790 tons of wicker.

In Rio Rufino alone, approximately 200 producers manage about 250 hectares of cultivated land. The area yields an average of 15 tons per hectare, resulting in an annual production of roughly 3,750 tons of wicker and an additional 6,000 tons of dried rods ready for artisanal use. The region's success is attributed to favorable natural conditions, including high altitude, low temperatures, soil characteristics, and abundant water and humidity.