The intense drought that affects the entire Mato Grosso do Sul and has increased the incidence of forest fires in the Pantanal, also harms agricultural production in Mato Grosso do Sul. An example is the corn harvest that is in full harvest in the State. According to data from the third week of June, from the Siga-MS project (Agribusiness Geographic Information System), maintained by Semadesc (Secretariat of Environment, Development, Science, Technology and Innovation) in partnership with Aprosoja/MS and the Famasul System , the retraction in the off-season is expected to be almost 20% this agricultural year.
Total production is estimated at 11,485 million tons, a drop of 19,23%, and productivity is forecast at 86,3 bags per hectare, a drop of 14,25%. Until the 21st, the corn harvest for the 2nd harvest 2023/2024 reached 8,2% of the total area of the 2,2 million cultivated this year. The report points out that dry periods occurred between March and April (10 to 30 days of water stress) and more recently, between April and June (more than 70 days without rain). The percentage of area harvested in the 2nd harvest 2023/2024 is 7,38 percentage points higher than the 2nd harvest 2022/2023, for the date of June 21st.
According to SIGA-MS, all regions of the State are in full phenological development, both vegetative and reproductive. In the west, center, north and northeast regions, conditions are mostly good, ranging from 55,9 to 85,8%. On the other hand, the southwest, southeast, south-border and south regions present conditions below the potential of the other regions. In these areas, you can find crops with up to 50% in poor conditions.
“The SIGA survey indicates that this adverse situation affected a total area of 785 thousand hectares in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul”, highlighted secretary Jaime Verruck, from Semadesc, remembering that already in the second corn harvest of 2023/2024, if observes significant losses in production potential due to water stress.
“This corn harvest should be more targeted at the domestic market. This year we will see an expansion of demand in the State. We have just opened Neomille, in Maracaju and, later this year, we will open the second Inpasa line, in Sidrolândia. Furthermore, we have growing demand from pig and cattle farming”, added the head of Semadesc.
The secretary recalls that severe weather conditions are more noticeable in crops in the south of the state. “We have a complex climate condition in Mato Grosso do Sul, with a severe drought that does not only impact the issue of fires in the Pantanal. It has also affected other regions, such as the south of the state, where more than 50% of corn crops are in poor or fair condition. This will bring crop failure with a greater impact than current rates. On the other hand, the State positions itself and increases the domestic demand for corn. In the medium term, we must reduce grain exports, as this corn will be processed internally and, from the point of view of the industry and adding value to our product, this is positive and important for Mato Grosso do Sul”, he concluded. .
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