Rio de Janeiro – The national crop of cereals, leguminous and oleaginous plants should reach 159 million tonnes. The result is in the eighth Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE) estimate disclosed on Friday (8), and exceeds the 149.6 million tonnes of the 2010 crop by 6,3%. Furthermore, it is 0.1% greater than forecasted in July.
According to the figures issued in the Systemic Study for Agricultural Production, the area to be harvested in 2011, 48.8 million hectares, represents growth of 4.9% over the 2010 cropland. The three main crops, which, together, represent 90.6% of produce, should have expansion in the area of cultivation. In the case of rice, the expansion should reach 1.6%. In maize, the IBGE expects expansion of 4% and in soy, 3.3%.
Regarding rice and soy production, the growth should reach 18.9% and 9.3%, whereas in maize, there should be reduction of 0.7%.
Among the regions, the South is leading in production volume, com 66.3 million tonnes. Then comes the Midwest, with 55.8 million tonnes, the Southeast, with 17.2 million tonnes, the Northeast, with 15.3 million tonnes, and the North, with 4.4 million tonnes. In comparison with 2010, there should be growth in all regions: North (9.2%), Northeast (30.1%), Southeast (1.0%), South (3.3%) and Midwest (6.2%).
The state of Mato Grosso is in the leadership in national production of grain, with participation of 19.6%. With this result, the state exceeds Paraná (19.4%), which had reductions in its second bean crop and third oat and wheat crops and, mainly, in the second maize crop. Losses both in volume of grain and in productivity were due to the May drought, frost in June and excess rain in July this year.
Among the 25 products selected, 14 presented growth in estimated production as against last year, mainly in the case of cotton seed (73.8%), shelled first crop peanuts (25.9%), hulled rice (18.9%) and first potato crop (13.5%).
*Translated by Mark Ament
