Embrapa rice cultivars are the theme of a field day in Maranhão

On the 5th, Embrapa Cocais, in partnership with the City of São Mateus (MA) and the Melhor Arroz Project, will hold a Field Day on Embrapa's BRS rice cultivars for Maranhão, especially for the favored rainfed system . Among the cultivars are BRS A 709, BRS A 704, BRS A 705, BRS A 706 CL and BRS A502, in addition to BRS Pampeira and BRS Catiana. The event will be at Fazenda Soledade, in the municipality of São Mateus.

The objective is to showcase Embrapa's portfolio of rice cultivars for the state's favored rainfed system. According to Carlos Santiago, an analyst at Embrapa Cocais, the cultivars are materials with tolerance to the main diseases, resistance to lodging, excellent grain quality, including industrial, and responsive to the use of high technology, with good productivity responses.

“The cultivars are displayed in a technological showcase at the event site. It will be a moment of discussion about the production chain, from planting to industrialization and the market, and an opportunity for interaction between researchers, producers, industrialists and seed farmers. Embrapa's technical team will show the agronomic characteristics, management details and market positioning of each one of them, showing the role of science and technology in the success of the crop”. 

Rice in Maranhão

Present every day on Brazilian tables, rice entered Brazil via Maranhão, brought by the Portuguese. In the past, Maranhão was the second largest producer in Brazil. The state is currently the fourth largest national producer of rice, the first largest producer in the Northeast and the largest per capita consumer of the product in the country. The grain is cultivated in more than 200 of the 217 municipalities in Maranhão, largely by family farmers. The municipality of São Mateus is the main producer in the state.

Thanks to the joint work of Embrapa and public and private partners, rice farming in Maranhão has been recovering its production capacity and reaping good results from investment in research, technology transfer and public policies to encourage cultivation and improve grain productivity and quality. Embrapa cultivars adapted to the state and correct crop management have increased the average rice productivity in Maranhão. The cultivars are evaluated and recommended by Embrapa.