Paraná leads industrial cassava production

Paraná is the main producer of cassava for industrial purposes in Brazil, but it also has table cassava, intended for human consumption, an important vegetable farming product. Together they generated around R$3,1 billion in Gross Production Value (VBP), according to preliminary data from 2022.

The analysis of culture in both segments is in the Agricultural Conjuncture Bulletin, referring to the week of August 11th to 17th. The document is prepared by technicians from the Department of Rural Economy (Deral), the State Secretariat for Agriculture and Supply of Paraná (Seab).

Industrial cassava, intended for the production of starch and flour, occupied 126,4 thousand hectares of land in Paraná in 2022. 2,9 million tons of the product came from there, which generated R$2,49 billion in VBP. Around 60% of the 136 thousand hectares planted in the 2022/23 harvest have already been harvested, with the possibility of reaching 3,2 million tons.

The weather conditions have favored this work, as well as the beginning of the planting of the new cycle, which continues until mid-December. The main producing region and where the largest industries in the sector are concentrated is the Northwest of Paraná.

Table cassava, also called cassava, was planted on 19,6 thousand hectares in 2022. Preliminary figures indicate a VBP of R$615,1 million from the production of 399,4 thousand tons spread over 19,6 thousand hectares . Although production extends across at least 376 municipalities, the largest concentration is in Cerro Azul, Metropolitan Region of Curitiba.

Cassava is the third main representative of horticulture in Paraná, behind potatoes and tomatoes, when analyzing gross income in the field. In Ceasas of the State, 8,5 thousand tons were sold last year, with a turnover of R$ 22,6 million. Paraná crops offered 94,2% of the total.

WHEAT AND CORN – The bulletin also mentions that the wheat harvest has already started in the State, reaching 1% this week, a similar rate to the same period last year. But the 25% volume in the maturation phase indicates that work should continue more quickly, with greater wheat availability in August.

The corn harvest is more advanced, reaching 34% of the estimated area of ​​2,4 million hectares. In volume, 4,76 million tons have already been made available to the market, out of a planned total of 14 million tons, a record for a second harvest.

HONEY - The bulletin also highlights the export of 14.903 tons of honey by Brazil during the first half of the year, with revenues of US$49,2 million. Paraná ranked fifth in exports of natural honey, with 986 tons and revenue of US$ 2,9 million.