Increase in international demand and the role of the machinery industry in fruit growing

We have become accustomed to the fact that Brazil is among the three largest producers and exporters of different types of crops, especially with regard to grains. In relation to fruits, this is still a half-truth: if the country is the third largest producer in the world, exports are still far from the top. According to Abrafrutas (Brazilian Association of Fruit and Fruit Products Producers and Exporters), Brazil is only the 23rd fruit exporter on the global market.

High production with low exports is mainly due to logistical challenges. Many types of fruit perish quickly and, in some cases, the infrastructure in some parts of the country ends up contributing to delays in distribution, which directly affects the quality of the product. The pandemic scenario, which limited the operation mainly of airports, responsible for the flow of around 10% of the exported volume, left farmers in the sector apprehensive.

In the first half of 2020, the country's fruit exports fell 5% compared to the same period last year, totaling 399,8 million kilos. Certain products with a shorter shelf life, such as peaches and persimmons, suffered an even greater drop, above 50%. However, the growing demand for healthy foods in developed countries and the off-season in the northern hemisphere helped to accelerate Brazilian fruit exports in the second half of the year.

The appreciation of the dollar against the real has also facilitated shipments, as it makes Brazilian products more attractive on the foreign market. The high dollar exchange rate allows exporters to lower the average price in foreign currency, without losing profitability in Brazilian currency. With this, the game changed and Brazilian fruit exports grew 3,6% in the year to October, when compared to shipments in the same period last year. The main destination is the European Union, responsible for purchasing 2020% of this volume.

This scenario should remain in the next harvest and domestic demand tends to remain stable. Therefore, opportunities are growing for Brazilian fruit growers, who will have to invest in increasing their production, without losing profitability. Faced with this need, technology appears as the farmer's main ally. It is worth remembering that it is not enough to grow fruit for export, but also to follow a series of strict protocols, including in the field of sustainability, so that the products are accepted in other markets, especially in Europe.

To assist farmers in this challenge, the agricultural machinery industry has moved to offer solutions that combine efficiency and low operating costs. Narrow tractors, more popularly known as “fruteiros”, have existed on the Brazilian market for over fifty years. However, the levels of comfort, technology and reduced fuel consumption found in today's machines are unprecedented.

A good example is the A3F line from Valtra, the brand that developed the first narrow tractor in Brazil and which has the best know-how in the sector. The line offers options ranging from 69 to 99 horsepower, a factory-equipped cabin and a transmission and engine set that guarantees 12% lower fuel consumption.

The power take-off, the ergonomic design of the cabin and the lifting capacity 25% greater than that of similar machines from other brands make this line of machines an important ally for Brazilian fruit growers. Finally, the A3F series also features the best turning radius on the market, which is very important for fruit growing, as it facilitates maneuvering in highly dense orchards, optimizing operating time and helping to improve productivity.

Machines like these, combined with intelligent telemetry and monitoring systems, which generate relevant data and information for the farmer, are the key for the country's fruit production to keep up with the recent growth in demand. Furthermore, products produced with high technology and in a sustainable way – the AGCO Power electronic engine guarantees the reduction of carbon emissions – gain added value on the international market.

If machines are increasingly helping fruit growers to streamline their processes and increase production in a consistent and profitable way, it is now up to the country's authorities to invest in solving the problems encountered from the outside: the logistical and bureaucratic challenges which still hinder Brazil's advance towards the top of the international fruit market.

Alexandre Assis, sales director at Valtra in Brazil