Brasília – Brazilian farmers produced 134.8 million tonnes of grain in the 2008/2009 crop. This is the second best result ever in the country, surpassed only by the previous crop, when 144.1 million tonnes were harvested.
The survey, which covers the cycle ranging from August 2008 to July this year, was disclosed today (8th) by the National Food Supply Company (Conab). According to the company, the two cultures that yield the highest volumes – soy (57.1 million and tonnes) and maize (50.1 million tonnes) – were harmed by the drought that took place in the Mid-South of the country, affecting productivity chiefly in the states of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso do Sul.
That led to a 6.8% drop in output in comparison with the 2007/2008 crop, despite the 0.6% increase in planted area, which totalled 47.4 million hectares. Soy and maize accounted for 75% of that area.
According to the Conab, even though it hampered soy and maize production, the drought ended up favouring rice farming in Rio Grande do Sul, which had a record-high yield, having gone from 6,902 kilograms to 7,150 kilograms per hectare.
During the entire crop cycle, farmers claimed that one of the reasons for the lower harvest was delay by the government in clearing financing for the rural sector. One of the main problems diagnosed was that banks were slow to clear the loans. Being aware of that, this year, before the official launch of the 2009/2010 crop, the National Monetary Council has already announced the requirements that financial institutions must meet.
The last edition of the 2008/2009 crop output survey was conducted by Conab technicians between August 17th and 21st. Information was taken from farmers, agronomists, technicians from cooperatives, agriculture secretariats, financial agents, and technology assistance and rural extension technicians from the country’s leading producing regions.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
