Brasília – The third survey of the 2009/2010 grain crop, issued today (8th) by the National Food Supply Company (Conab), shows that increased soy farming in the country should be the main driver of growth, estimated to reach 4% compared with the previous cycle, totalling 140.6 million tonnes. In terms of volume, there should be an increase of 5.47 million tonnes over the 2008/2009 harvest.
According to the Conab, many farmers chose to plant soy instead of maize due to lower production costs and greater resistance of the grain to drought. If the farmed area is maintained and weather conditions are favourable in the main farming areas, then the harvest of the oleaginous plant may increase 12.9% over the last crop, which totalled 57.16 million tonnes, thus amounting to 64.56 million tonnes, a record-high figure.
The survey shows that the bean harvest should also grow, despite a reduction in planted area, and the first crop – of three throughout the year – should see growth of 10.6% in volume, totalling 1.49 million tonnes. According to the Conab, the variation is due to a recovery of productivity, which was affected by drought in the last cycle, especially in the state of Paraná.
On the other hand, the Conab survey shows that the output of all other summer crops may decrease. The maize crop should record a reduction of 4.9%, or 1.64 million tonnes; the rice crop should decrease by 4.7%, or 586,300 tonnes, and the cotton crop should decrease by 1.3%, or 24,700 tonnes.
The total area planted with grain in the country should be 48 million hectares, representing growth of 0.7%, or 324,100 hectares more than in the 2008/2009 crop. Soy alone, with a 6% expansion in planted area, should occupy 23.05 million hectares.
The survey was conducted from November 16 to 20 by approximately 50 Conab technicians. Interviewees included cooperative representatives, state Agriculture secretariats, technical assistance and agricultural extension organizations, financial agents and input resellers.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
