Mato Grosso advances in the national ranking of coffee production

In 10 years, Mato Grosso went from second to last on the list of coffee producers in the country to 9th place in the national ranking of highest production, according to data from the National Supply Company (Conab). Cultivation is carried out 100% by family farmers, who receive support from the MT Produtivo Café program, from the Government of Mato Grosso. 

The program, developed by the State Secretariat for Family Agriculture (Seaf) and the Mato Grosso Research, Assistance and Rural Extension Company (Empaer), distributes coffee seedlings, irrigation kits, fertilizers and equipment, designed to support producers in improving of agricultural practices.

In 2014, in penultimate place, the State was ahead only of Acre, with production of 165 thousand bags of coffee that year, and now it is among the 10 largest Brazilian producers, with 270,8 thousand bags this year.  

The municipalities that stand out most in coffee production are Colniza, Nova Bandeirantes, Juína, Cotriguaçu and Aripuanã.

Currently, 29 municipalities are involved in coffee production in the state, which places Mato Grosso among the 10 largest producers of the grain. 

The Secretary of Family Agriculture of Mato Grosso, Luluca Ribeiro, stated that the State Government's objective is to insert Mato Grosso more and more into the national coffee production scenario. 

"We are extremely satisfied with the results we have achieved with the MT Produtivo Café program. Our objective is to continue strengthening coffee production in our state and ensure that Mato Grosso stands out more and more on the national scene", he emphasized. 

The agronomist from the Mato Grosso Research, Assistance and Rural Extension Company (Empaer), Fabrício Tomaz, pointed out that this growth is explained by the increase in crop productivity. 

In the last 10 years, productivity per hectare planted in the State grew 185%. Previously, 8,2 bags per hectare were produced and now 23,3 bags per hectare.

"Although the cultivated area has decreased over the years, productivity has increased and this is explained by technological improvements such as the use of more productive mother plants, the practice of irrigation and chemical correction of the soil", he said.