São Paulo – Despite the crisis that is faced by economies worldwide, Brazilian agriculture has been reacting positively. "Brazilian farmers have been developing extraordinary work. At a moment of crisis like this, agriculture has been reacting extremely positively," said minister Reinhold Stephanes, at the opening of agricultural technology fair AgroBrasília 2009, yesterday (16th), at the Agricultural Cooperative of the Federal District Region (Coopa-DF). The information was supplied by the Minister of Agriculture.
The fair counted on 180 exhibitors who showed technological innovations in the areas of cultivars, machinery, tractors, seeds and vehicles, as well as news in family farming. "The objective of the event is to make producers improve their processes through new technologies, be they in the area of genetics or machinery," said João Carlos Werlang, president of Coopa-DF, in a press statement. The cooperative, which celebrated its 31st year in operation on April 8th, has 107 associates.
According to the organisers of AgroBrasília 2009, the estimate is for 30,000 visitors to walk the aisles in the second edition of the fair. Last Wednesday morning (16th) alone, 430 small farmers visited the stands.
Apart from Stephanes and Werlang, the opening of the fair also included the presence of the governor of the Federal District, José Roberto Arruda, federal representative Rodrigo Rollemberg, Agricultural Defence secretary Inácio Kroetz and Agricultural Policy secretary Edilson Guimarães.
*Translated by Mark Ament
