Condom Factory Opens In Brazil To Save Amazon Rain Forest

Sao Paulo, Brazil (AHN) - The Brazilian government has inaugurated on Monday a condom factory that is aimed at providing livelihood to hundreds of Brazilian rubber tappers and at the same time help preserve the Amazon rain forest.

In a statement, Brazil's Health Ministry said the factory in Xapuri, in the northwestern part of the capital Sao Paulo, has the capacity to produce 100 million condoms a year.

The ministry adds that small time rubber tappers would provide the rubber requirement to the plant. By giving them livelihood, these poor rubber tappers were expected to protect the towering jungle trees in the Chico Mendes forest reserve which would eventually preserve the country's rain forest.

The condom factory is projected to provide livelihood to 500 families of rubber tappers in the region and provide at least 150 jobs.