El Niño increases challenges for agricultural production.

The intensification of the El Niño climate phenomenon is raising a red flag for Brazilian agribusiness. This scenario is expected to cause droughts in the North and Northeast regions, above-average rainfall in the South, and irregular rainfall distribution in the Central-West and Southeast, with direct impacts on agricultural production.

Given this scenario, Coopercitrus reinforces the importance of advance planning, proper management, and the use of technologies to minimize losses and preserve productivity. "The implementation of well-structured strategies allows for the reduction of losses, preservation of productivity, and sustained profitability, even in adverse weather conditions," says Marcus Vinicius Pires Alves, manager of the Technical Department at Coopercitrus.

According to the expert, practices such as preventive management with micronutrients, biostimulants, biological agents, and resistance inducers help maintain productive potential during periods of water stress. With the return of the rains, the recommendation is to prioritize the physiological recovery of the plants and reinforce pest and disease control.

Main recommendations

In perennial crops, such as coffee and citrus, especially in irrigated areas, the recommendation is to carry out careful management of flowering to ensure fruit set and development, in addition to intensifying phytosanitary monitoring.

In sugarcane cultivation, the strategy is to preserve the crop's physiological activity during the dry season and, after the rains return, stimulate plant recovery while still managing pests and diseases.

For cereals, Coopercitrus recommends paying attention to defining the planting window, using high-vigor and healthy seeds, nutritional management, and adopting biostimulants and resistance inducers to favor the initial establishment of crops.

"The success of agricultural production in El Niño years depends directly on the ability to adapt. The combined use of technology, strategic planning, and good agronomic practices increases the efficiency and resilience of crops," says Paulo Henrique Officiati da Silva, Commercial Seed Manager at Coopercitrus.

Among the priority measures to mitigate risks in cereals are planning the planting window, choosing adapted cultivars, maintaining soil cover, constantly monitoring pests and diseases, diversifying crops, and adopting risk management tools such as crop insurance.

The cooperative also highlights the importance of financial protection in the face of increased climate volatility. In addition to technical support, Coopercitrus offers a portfolio of solutions that includes inputs, machinery and implements, fuels, animal health and nutrition, as well as technologies focused on production management.