The 2022/2023 rice harvest is estimated at 7,1 million tons in RS

Irga's estimate for the 2022/2023 harvest is that Rio Grande do Sul's production will be 7,1 million tons of rice, a reduction of 7,8% compared to the last harvest, which recorded 7,7 million tons of rice. This harvest, 839.972 hectares of irrigated rice were sown in Rio Grande do Sul.

According to the technical directorate of the municipality, Flávia Miyuki Tomita, the reduction in production of the current harvest is a consequence of the reduction in the sown area by 12%, and aggravated by a loss of 15.120 hectares due to drought, concentrating more than 85% of the losses in the Border West.

The harvest was influenced, for the third time in a row, by the La Niña climate phenomenon, which reduces the frequency and volume of precipitation in RS. The Western Half of RS was the hardest hit, which includes the Central, Campanha and Fronteira Oeste rice farming regions. Among these three regions, the Western Border was the most punished.

In general, from September to March, precipitation and relative humidity were below average and solar radiation and temperature were above average in the State. These factors resulted in evaporation well above the average in RS in the months of November, December, January and February, mainly.

Despite the reduction in area and losses due to drought, the current harvest has some regions with high productivity, a factor that is minimizing the climatic problems faced by areas compromised by lack of water for irrigation. Sowing at the recommended time, the increase in area in crop rotation/succession and the use of cultivars with high productive potential, with emphasis on IRGA 424 RI sown in 54% of the State's rice farming area, are ensuring sufficient production to supply the intern market.

“The high levels of productivity achieved have kept the consumer market supplied, despite the reduction in planted area and the effects of drought. These productivity indices reflect the qualification and evolution of Rio Grande do Sul's crops, the result of the work of our producers and the research and extension carried out by IRGA, which year after year guarantees rice on Brazilians' plates”, adds the president of Irga, Rodrigo Machado.

Councilor Fernando Osório, member of the Irga Market Committee, rules out the possibility of shortages occurring. “Despite the reduction in production estimated by the institute, we will not have a problem of shortages, as production is close to consumption and the export and import projection is equivalent, so the carryover stock is normal, similar to that of the previous harvest”, comments Osório.