Banana production gains strength in the Far West of Santa Catarina

The banana produced in the region has characteristics appreciated by consumers, such as sweetness, pleasant flavor and good color.

21.09.2023 | 14:42 (UTC -3)
Cinthia Andruchak Freitas
Photo: Disclosure
Photo: Disclosure

Although banana production is still little explored in the Far West of Santa Catarina, the local market offers good opportunities for those who invest in this crop. Families that produce the fruit are motivated by demand from open-air markets, the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) and direct sales to consumers. Furthermore, the banana produced in the region has characteristics that are highly appreciated by consumers, such as sweetness, pleasant flavor and good color.

Epagri works to guide producers on the most appropriate cultivation and management techniques that guarantee better results in the orchard. An example of this was the Technical Meeting on banana cultivation and management, held on August 15 at the Epagri de São Miguel do Oeste Training Center (Cetresmo).

The meeting, organized by Epagri de São Miguel do Oeste, brought together around 30 farmers, who learned about the most suitable varieties for the region, orchard implementation, clump management, fertilization, harvesting and preparing bunches for sale.

Epagri banana varieties

The activity was carried out in the Cetresmo educational banana orchard, where there is a collection of varieties recommended for the region, some of them developed by Epagri. “We installed this unit last year with the aim of observing the development of different banana varieties, taking advantage of the results of research work. It also serves to train technicians and farmers”, explains Simone Bianchini, extensionist at Epagri.

Participants left the meeting motivated to adapt the management of their banana plantations and acquire new varieties of plants from suitable nurseries. The group's next qualification activity is scheduled for May 2024.

Banana in microclimates

According to Simone, banana production is a viable alternative in areas of the Far West of Santa Catarina with a favorable microclimate, such as on river banks, where the chance of frost occurring is lower. “This is a more localized production, but it can be viable for some families who have an affinity with the culture and suitable areas for establishing and developing banana plantations”, she highlights.

Almost all bananas consumed in the Far West of Santa Catarina come from other regions. Therefore, Epagri's challenge is to expand local production and encourage producers to adopt appropriate management techniques to be able to serve, at least, the institutional markets for family farming, such as the PNAE and the Food Acquisition Program (PAA).

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