Embrapa Algodão welcomes visiting researchers from Peru

Two researchers from the National Institute of Agricultural Research – INIA (an institution equivalent to Embrapa in Peru) are participating in training at Embrapa Algodão, from October 15th to December 15th. The training is part of the cooperation between Brazil and Peru, within the scope of the Strengthening the Cotton Sector through South-South Cooperation project, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Researchers Graziella Nuñes and Karina Sarango came in search of information on cotton genetic improvement, technology transfer, management and conservation of soil and water in the semi-arid region, Integrated Pest Management, agroecology, social inclusion, family farming and food security. They will be multipliers of this information with the INIA team.

The technical visit schedule includes meetings with teams from the Unit's headquarters, in Campina Grande; from the Cerrado Regional Center, at Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, in Santo Antônio de Goiás; and Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, in Brasília, in addition to meetings with representatives of the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers and field visits.  

“The objective of our visit is to exchange experiences, learn about the work you do in cotton cultivation in family farming systems and social inclusion and above all the work in semi-arid areas that are similar to the conditions we have in the areas where we produce cotton in Peru”, says agronomist Karina Sarango, specialist in Technology Transfer at INIA.

Since 2013, they have been carrying out technology transfer activities to strengthen cotton cultivation in Peru, with the support of Embrapa's experience. “Cotton cultivation in Peru has been recovering in recent years. So, for us it is a great experience to be here and see how small producers can get a good price for colored and organic cotton. This motivates us and gives us great expectations to implement our system for cotton production”, he says.

Peru once had a planted area of ​​up to 60 thousand hectares of cotton, but factors such as low prices, a long crop cycle and poor organization of the production chain meant that production was greatly reduced. Today, around five thousand hectares are cultivated, and the country's most famous product is Pima cotton, with an extra-long fiber, produced in the Piura region.