as this chapter argues improvements in these areas have the potential to raise mediumterm prospects significantly both for sustained agricultural growth but also for economic development more widely the south and centrewest regions of the country have higher rainfall better soils and more developed infrastructure farms in these regions use purchased inputs more intensively and are equipped with higher technologies central brazil contains substantial areas of degraded grassland with potential for crop production most of brazil s grains oilseeds and other export crops are produced in the south and centrewest regions although soybean production is increasing in the matopiba region containing the states of maranhao tocantins piaui and bahia