Peanut pesticides generate almost US$ 100 million in Brazil

The new survey of the FarmTrak Peanut historical series, by the consultancy Kynetec, has just been released. The study reveals that pesticides for crops generated US$98 million in the 2022-23 cycle, an increase of 28% compared to the 2021-22 period (US$77 million). Still in relation to the previous harvest, adds Kynetec, peanut planting jumped from 200 thousand hectares to 215 thousand hectares (+7,4%) in the national territory. Around 90% of the cultivation areas, states the company, are in the state of SP.

According to Kynetec's market analyst, Raquel Ribeiro, as in previous harvests, the good financial performance of pesticides in the crop is explained, above all, by the fact that the producer has sought greater productivity through technological improvement. “The farmer has also made important investments in the use of efficient seeds, in addition to agricultural equipment and implements in general.”

According to Raquel Ribeiro, the producer's disbursements during the harvest were also linked to the attractiveness of the foreign market. In 2022, she highlights, around 285 thousand tons of peanuts were exported, or 38% of total Brazilian production in 2021-22 (747 thousand tons), a volume 44% above that measured in the 2019-20 cycle (198 thousand tons) . Brazil is the 13th largest producer and 7th country in the ranking of peanut exporters.

Regarding pesticides, specifically, continues the expert, Kynetec research shows that product adoption has reached 100% in the main segments. “The number of applications rose 12% and the total treated area (PAT) reached 7,9 million hectares.” In São Paulo's crops, Raquel emphasizes, the technological level of crops remained robust and boosted productivity to 3.975 kilos per hectare (+6,5%).

Pesticides by category

According to FarmTrak, fungicides remain the most relevant pesticides for peanut protection: they represented 42% of the total or US$41 million. Compared to the previous harvest, says Raquel Ribeiro, there was an increase of around 21% in the financial result of the category. “This segment was driven by the control of black spot (Pseudocercospora personata).”

In second place, with 38% of the total or US$37 million, insecticides advanced 29%, “driven by the control of thrips (Enneothrips flavens) and the red-necked caterpillar (Stegasta globolla)”, summarizes Raquel.

Herbicides and pesticides for seed treatment conclude the research. The former corresponded to 11% of the peanut pesticide market or US$11 million, an increase of 50% compared to the previous harvest. Seed treatment products grew 34%, to US$ 6 million, and were equivalent to 6% of the total movement in the crop in 22-23.

Raquel Ribeiro also highlights that peanut cultivation is an excellent option for crop rotation. “As it is a legume, peanuts act as a nitrogen fixer, improving soil fertility. Its use in rotation transfers more yield to the harvest of subsequent crops”, she concludes.