Field Week celebrates 30 years of the Central-South Beans and Corn Project

30 years ago, the Central-South Beans and Corn Project was created. Fruit of the initial partnership between Syngenta and Emater (Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company), the program currently also has the support of Iapar (Agronomic Institute of Paraná), Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Company) and IAC (Agronomic Institute of Campinas). Its priority is to professionalize small farmers of two important Brazilian crops, increasing productivity and income from crops. Focusing on the south of the country, especially in Paraná, the initiative aims to train small farmers, enabling access to good practices and contributing to the sustainability of agriculture.

To celebrate the program's three decades, between March 3 and 6, Ponta Grossa (PR) will host the 21st Field Week, a meeting between producers and various professionals from the production chains to discuss central themes of the project. Among them: producer safety and environmental preservation; soil management (direct planting and crop rotation); bean cultivars and corn hybrids; integrated pest management and disease control. The estimate is to bring together 1.600 farmers.

Doubled productivity

Over the last 30 years, producers served by the Center-South Bean and Corn Project have doubled their productivity in both crops. The leap is due, in addition to training in good production practices, to access to public policies to support family farming, which resulted in more investments in properties. In Paraná, the program serves 2,5 farmers per year. In group activities, to disseminate the methodology, more than 10 thousand producers participate.

In the 2018/2019 harvest, 124 demonstration units (DUs) were installed in 42 municipalities. In comparative terms, the national average productivity of beans was 1.031 kg/ha. In Paraná, it reached 1.551 kg/ha. Project producers reached 2.111 kg/ha. Corn repeats the proportion: the national average was 5.718 kg/ha; in Paraná, 6.394 kg/ha; and program farmers achieved 8.816 kg/ha.

Sustainable Agriculture Plan

The Central-South Beans and Corn Project, and all the results made possible through it, are considered showcases of Syngenta's Sustainable Agriculture Plan, which comprises six commitments linked to the development of agricultural practice in the world (Learn more).

By promoting best sustainable practices in the field, enabling fair and safe working conditions and training small producers in what concerns, mainly, environmentally correct planting techniques and adequate management of soil and agricultural pesticides, the Project connects directly to the Plan's premises.

30 years of the Central-South Bean and Corn Project

When: March 3rd to 6th
Hours: 8h30 to 16h20
Where: Fundação ABC Ponta Grossa -- Rodovia PR-151, Km 288 - Ponta Grossa (PR)