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The 2020/21 rice harvest is expected to be 4% larger and total 11.63 million tons, in an area of 1,684 thousand hectares, an increase of 1.1% compared to the previous harvest. The national average productivity is 6,905kg/ha, an increase of 2.9%. The data was recorded by the National Supply Company (Conab).
The harvest began in March and is practically completed in the producing states. This harvest, high grain prices motivated producers to invest in the crop
Over the course of 2021, the outlook is for transit stocks to be restored, as a result of the projected retraction in consumption due to estimates of economic recovery. Regarding the trade balance, the projection of high prices, added to the estimated strengthening of the national currency, will reduce the pace of exports identified in the 2019/20 harvest and the projection is that the country will sell 1.3 million tons in the 2020/21 harvest . Thus, the expectation is that the period will end with a mild surplus of 200 thousand tons in the grain trade balance, with imports of 1.1 million tons for the same period.
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By regions
In the North Region, the forecast is for an increase in the planted area by 2.0% compared to the previous harvest, potentially increasing production, which is currently estimated at 1,054.3 thousand tons (an increase of 6.3% compared to the last harvest) . As a result, the region should become the second largest rice producer in the country, with production in Tocantins being the most prominent.
In the State, irrigated rice, the first harvest, had productivity averages ranging between 90 and 120 bags/ha. There was a productivity variation of around 5.7% compared to the last harvest, 2019/20. To achieve this variation, the producer invested in fertilization, use of new varieties and improvement in crop management, all linked to good weather conditions, which contributed to the good development of the crop.
The negative highlight is in Mato Grosso. In the first harvest, especially in February and March, combined with inappropriate management for a high-technology package, it culminated in the occurrence of a high percentage of damaged grains and a number of non-standard whole grains, compared to recent harvests. Even so, the average productivity obtained did not observe a drop, limiting the problems to qualitative parameters, obtaining 3,476 kg/ha, the result being even slightly higher than that recorded in the last harvest, largely due to the increasing financial investments applied to the crop. With the sown area of 114 thousand hectares, the harvested production was 396.3 thousand tons, and the inflow of supply has put pressure on prices in the Sorriso and Sinop regions.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the main producer, the rice harvest is closed. The weather conditions were ideal for operations, as the volume of rain, although close to normal, was concentrated in a few episodes of great intensity. As a result, the average productivity was kept the same as in the previous survey, making this the harvest with the highest productivity ever recorded. This is due to some factors such as: good temperature and light conditions during the crop cycle, rotation with soybeans, sowing at the recommended period, elimination of marginal areas or areas heavily infested by invasives, in addition to the constant evolution of producers in terms of management and technologies. .
By: Eliza Maliszewski | agrolink
