How to produce more sugar per hectare

Brazil is the world's largest sugar producer and exporter. It is estimated that 35% of the sugar consumed in the world is of Brazilian origin.

However, due to the large territorial extension and the entry of sugarcane fields into areas of agricultural expansion, the country's productivity is not high, it is around 77 tons/ha, below countries with less sugarcane tradition such as Colombia.

To reduce this competitiveness with other countries and maintain market leadership, Brazil has traditionally expanded its planted areas through the purchase of land, gaining the reputation of being an extensionist country. According to the Sugarcane Industry Union (UNICA), in 2020, Brazil had approximately 10 million hectares planted with sugarcane, with India, the world's second largest producer, planting only 4,7 million of hectares. 

Even though it has areas for expansion, the sector is faced with high agricultural production costs, with the high value of land and the price of inputs. 

With the soaring dollar and low global sugar stocks, the prices of this commodity are at very interesting values ​​for the producer, around 30% more than its average price. However, this market appreciation is only possible when there is a relationship between 2 factors: supply and demand. 

Due to the prolonged dry period of the year, and the increase in demand caused by the pandemic, 2020 provided an interesting scenario, where there is demand for the product, however, a drop in productivity on the global stage and with this, the tendency for prices to increase.

There is a myth on the market that says that with the use of irrigation, there is a low production of ATR (total recoverable sugar) and therefore, a low sugar production. However, this thought is incorrect, as there are irrigation management techniques that allow sugar concentration.

The Coruripe Plant, located in the city of Iturama, in Minas Gerais, has an area of ​​450 hectares with localized drip irrigation. With this technology, the company has been able to take advantage of this scenario without worrying about climate factors and even taking advantage of it.

For example, on one of its properties, Fazenda Nogueira (81 hectares), with the use of drip irrigation technology, the average, after 8 years of cuts, is 18,18 tons of sugar per hectare. The unit's average sugar production is 12 tons/hectare in the dryland/salvage system with vinasse.

With an average sugar value of R$72,00 per 50 kg bag, or R$1,4 per kilo, producing 6,18 tons more. The Plant has an increase in profitability of R$8.652,00 / ha, leading to a payback of approximately 1,7 years. 

 

We can conclude from the example above that it is possible to increase your profitability by exploiting positive market moments through new technologies. Another myth has been debunked, as with the use of drip irrigation it is possible to increase the amount of sugar produced per hectare, increasing the profitability and productivity of the farm.

Daniel Pedroso, Netafim Agronomic Specialist