Mining entities assess losses caused by drought and high temperatures in coffee plantations

Representatives from Emater-MG and the Faemg System (Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of the State of Minas Gerais) met this Tuesday (10/11), in Belo Horizonte, to consolidate joint action in surveying losses due to adverse weather conditions in coffee growing in the state of Minas Gerais. state. The idea is to add efforts to the harvest survey carried out annually by the National Supply Company (Conab), to quantify the damage and its scope as quickly as possible, and point out the appropriate income recovery mechanisms for each producer or region most affected.

“We know about the losses, which need to be measured, which must be done based on a more precise mapping of the situation. We will create a task force in the field, with technicians from the Faemg System and Emater-MG, so that in December we can have a more assertive estimate of what will be consolidated in January, with the partnership with Conab. It is important that we act as quickly as possible at this time, helping and guiding producers to seek alternatives in credit lines or contacting insurance companies, when applicable. And we look for other solutions to minimize impacts and provide producers with conditions to continue producing and keeping one of the most important sectors of the Minas Gerais economy active”, said the vice-president of the Faemg System and president of the State and National Coffee Production Commissions, Breno Mesquita.

The president of Emater-MG, Gustavo Laterza, reiterated the importance of the entities working together, with the support of the State Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and the Government of Minas Gerais, so that technical support actions for producers are effective in the field.

 “Measuring losses at this time requires caution and study, to identify their impact on production, as well as monitor how the rain regime will perform at the end of the year. We need to gather as much information as possible urgently, monitoring the harvest in the municipalities and regions. We will align with the entities' technicians, to collect information from producers and to issue technical reports by properties and/or municipalities, guiding and subsidizing appropriate public actions and policies”, said Laterza.

Meeting results

- Creation of a task force to anticipate the survey of losses in the state, with leveling up of technicians from the Faemg System and Emater-MG programs (linked to the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) who will go into the field.

- Guidance for producers on crop insurance and available credit lines. Preparation of technical reports for the most affected producers and for municipalities where there is a need to declare a state of emergency.

Coffee in  Minas Gerais 

·         Coffee is one of the main agricultural products in Minas Gerais.
·         Minas should account, in 2020, for 52% of national production – the estimate for this year is between 30 and 32 million bags harvested.
·         456 municipalities in Minas Gerais have coffee growing among their main economic activities.
·         Coffee is the main source of income for around 140 thousand families in Minas Gerais.
·         124 thousand of them are small-scale coffee farmers, family farmers.
·         Around 4 million jobs are created throughout the grain production chain in the state.
·         Gross Production Value (VBP) of coffee farming in 2020 is estimated at R$16,7 billion in MG, representing 61% of the sector's national VBP.
·         MG exported, in 2019, approximately 27 million bags, generating US$3,5 billion. Main destinations: USA, Germany and Japan
·         International coffee shipments that year represented 44,6% of total agribusiness exports from Minas Gerais.