Producers hope to open new markets for paddy rice

The opening of new markets for paddy rice and the highest historical cost that rice farming has faced were some of the main points discussed at the press conference of the 29th Official Opening of the Rice Harvest, held this Wednesday, January 30 , at the event headquarters at Embrapa Terras Baixas, in Capão do Leão (RS), in the Pelotas region (RS). The vice-president of the Federation of Rice Growers Associations of Rio Grande do Sul (Federarroz), Alexandre Velho, also highlighted the losses in rice crops due to weather conditions, excessive rain and low light.

According to Velho, there is an expectation of an announcement by the federal government during the Harvest Opening of help for producers who suffered losses, especially in municipalities in the Campanha and Fronteira Oeste regions, responsible for more than 40% of the planted area in the State. . “The excess rain will have a strong impact on total production in Rio Grande do Sul. The initial forecast was a 10% drop in productivity, but with the worsening of weather conditions there should be an increase in this percentage, reaching some municipalities , between 15% and 20%, and a decrease of almost one million tons in production”, he stated.

The director also stated that the sector has several demands from the Ministry of Agriculture, such as marketing mechanisms, resources for pre-funding and the review of the agreement with Mercosur. “The Minister of Agriculture, Teresa Cristina, has already demonstrated her intention to change structural issues such as Mercosur. There are no quotas for entry into Brazil of rice from the countries of this economic bloc, which brings losses to the rice production chain due to the lower production cost on the other side of the border”, he highlighted, remembering that Federarroz is already dealing with Conab to review the minimum price of rice, currently at R$36,44. We demonstrate that the value is out of date by at least around R$4,00 to R$5,00, reaching values ​​between R$40,00 and R$42,00.

Velho also recalled the work that Federarroz has been doing to open new markets for rice at home, such as Guatemala, Mexico and Africa. “There is an expectation of a trip to Kenya at the end of February. The African country is interested in buying our rice instead of importing it from Thailand as has been happening”, he signaled.

The vice-president of Federarroz also said that many things can be done from the outset, seeking diversification such as the integration of livestock farming and soybeans. “The producer spends 15% less when he returns with rice on top of soybeans”, he highlighted.

Also participating in the press conference were the deputy general head of Embrapa Clima Temperado, José Dias Vianna Filho, the coordinator of the Instituto Riograndense do Arroz (Irga) in the South Zone, André Matos, and the mayors of Capão do Leão, Paulo Nolasco, and Pelotas, Paula Mascarenhas.

The Official Opening of the Rice Harvest will take place between the 20th and 22nd of February with the theme Productive Matrix: Diversified Activity, Increased Income. The event has Premium Sponsorship from the Rio Grandense do Arroz Institute (irga), co-organized by Embrapa and is an organization of the Federation of Rice Growers Associations of Rio Grande do Sul (Federarroz).