Brasília – The Brazilian grain crop in the 2010/2011 season, which ended on June 30, should reach 162 million tonnes. The study – the tenth by the National Food Supply Company (Conab) for the cycle – is the highest ever recorded in the country. The volume exceeds the previous record (for the last crop) by 8.6%, or 12.8 million tonnes. In the previous season, a total of 149.2 million tonnes were picked.
The cultivated area grew 4.4%, from 47.4 million hectares in the previous crop to 49.5 million hectares in the current crop. In comparison with the previous season, disclosed last month, there was growth of 0.31%, or 523,000 tonnes, in the crop estimate. Another two studies will take place for the final result to be reached, closing the 2010/2011 crop study.
According to the Conab, the delay in the rainy season in cultivation seasons in the main crops, like soy and maize, did not affect their development. Apart from that, despite being below average, the precipitation was sufficient and resulted “in surprising productivity, if taking into consideration the fact that the La Niña phenomenon was taking place in the states in the South of Brazil and also in the Midwest”.
The main products responsible for the growth in the crop, according to the state-owned company, aligning appropriate climate to growth in the area of cultivation, were the soy, maize, cotton, bean and rice crops. The research took place between the 20th and 24th of May, and was developed by Conab technicians. They approached representatives of cooperatives and rural unions, public and private organisations in the South, Southeast, Midwest and Northeast, as well as part of the North.
*Translated by Mark Ament
