Agência Brasil*
Brasília – The tenth and last National Food Supply Company (Conab) harvest study for the 2005/2006 crop shows that the Brazilian grain production should reach 119.9 million tonnes. The figure represents an increase of 5.3% in relation to the previous crop (2004-2005), which was 113.9 million tonnes. The figures were disclosed on Monday (11).
In comparison to the previous study, which estimated 119.7 million tonnes, the increase was 0.2%. Productivity was the main factor for growth, powered mainly by maize, cotton and rice crops.
The cultivated area, in turn, shrank 3.7%, from 49.1 million hectares in the last harvest to 47.3 million hectares in the 2005/2006 crop. Reductions were identified mainly in cotton (27.3%), rice (23.7%), soy (4.6%) and wheat (14.3%).
In contrast, growth was maintained in the area of maize, both in the first crop of 2006 (6.5%), and in the second (growth of 2.8%); and beans: 6.3% in the first crop and 10.9% in the second.
The study was executed between August 21 and 25. The products analysed were cotton, peanuts, rice, oats, rye, barley, beans, sunflower, castor seeds, maize, soy, wheat and wheat-rye hybrid.
The first estimate for the next harvest will take place between September 18 and 22, and will be disclosed on October 5.
*Translated by Mark Ament
