Bahia ends 2024/25 soybean harvest with record productivity

Bahia concluded the 2024/2025 soybean harvest with impressive performance, reaffirming the state's leading role in the national agricultural production scenario. According to data consolidated by the Technical Council of the Bahia Farmers and Irrigators Association (Aiba), production reached 8,7 million tons in a planted area of ​​2,1 million hectares, with an average productivity of 68 bags per hectare - the best result in the last 30 years and which demonstrates the technical advancement in the field.

For Aiba president Moisés Schmidt, the numbers reflect the commitment of Bahian producers to productive efficiency, sustainability and the responsible use of natural resources. “Another harvest ends with highly positive results, thanks to the efforts of farmers, the use of cutting-edge technologies, the proper management of crops and the work of technical teams such as the Phytosanitary Program, which continuously monitors the field with a focus on plant health. Bahia shows that it is possible to produce more, with responsibility and respect for the environment,” he said.

The survey is the result of technical work carried out by the Aiba Agribusiness Center, based on 140 field samples collected in the five main producing micro-regions of the state. The data were evaluated and approved by the Aiba Technical-Advisory Board, chaired by Orestes Mandelli, who reinforced the credibility of the study. “This is a careful survey, based on consolidated methodology, and the numbers reflect a robust and technically validated harvest. Farmers in Bahia are reaping the fruits of continuous work, based on technical knowledge, responsibility and adaptation to field conditions,” said Mandelli.

The technical survey is published in the Aiba Harvest Bulletin and corroborates the figures released by the National Supply Company (Conab). “The average productivity of 68 bags per hectare is a milestone that consolidates the advancement of agriculture in Bahia. This result is a direct consequence of investment in biotechnology, precision agriculture, integrated pest management and the producer’s commitment to good practices. It is also important to highlight the role of favorable climate conditions and the preventive action of the Phytosanitary Program, with a focus on controlling Asian Rust,” explains Aloísio Júnior, Agribusiness Manager at Aiba.

Another relevant factor for the good performance of the harvest is the continuous investment in sustainable agricultural practices. The Direct Planting System (SPD) is one of the techniques widely adopted by producers, promoting improvements in the soil, contributing to carbon fixation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable irrigation also plays a decisive role: Bahia currently has 334 thousand irrigated hectares, a growth of 40% in the last two years, driven by studies of the Urucuia Water Potential — an initiative coordinated by Aiba, with support from the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) and the State Government. 

Corn harvest maintains fast harvest pace

In addition to soybeans, the corn harvest is also progressing at a fast pace in Bahia. The planted area was 105 thousand hectares, with an estimated average productivity of 187 bags per hectare, totaling around 1,17 million tons. According to Orestes Mandelli, the crop's performance is the result of producers' investment in soil fertility, good hybrids and efficient phytosanitary management.

According to the ninth survey by Conab, the corn harvest in the state is already more than halfway through and should be completed in the coming weeks, with an estimated national average productivity of 195 bags per hectare.