Rice planting in RS advances, but Central region has delays

Rice planting for the 2024/25 harvest in Rio Grande do Sul is close to completion. According to the 12th partial survey carried out by the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga), 93,36% of the estimated area of ​​948.356 hectares has already been planted. There are 63 thousand hectares (6,64%) left to complete planting in the state. The Central region is the most delayed due to difficulties caused by frequent rains and the need to reorganize areas affected by previous floods.

To date, 885.352 hectares have been planted in the state. The Western Frontier, Campanha and External Coastal Plain regions are close to reaching 100% of the planned area. The Western Frontier leads the progress with 278.763 hectares planted, representing 99,01% of the projected 281.542 hectares. In Campanha, the rate is 98,99%, with 130.422 hectares already planted of the planned 131.740. The External Coastal Plain reached 98,54% of the target, with 97.947 hectares planted.

Other regions have shown significant progress. In the Inner Coastal Plain, 136.297 hectares were planted, equivalent to 94,77% of the estimated 143.825 hectares. The South Zone, the last region to begin planting, has sown 158.248 hectares, representing 95,34% of the expected 165.986 hectares.

The Central region, however, is the one that is most behind. So far, 83.675 hectares have been planted, corresponding to 66,48% of the projected 125.860 hectares. This region was the most impacted by the flooding in May this year. According to Luiz Fernando Siqueira, manager of the Rural Extension (Dater) at Irga, the reorganization of the areas and frequent rains have made it difficult to advance planting. He points out that sowing in the Central region may exceed the recommended ideal period.

Siqueira explains that five regions of the state should complete planting next week. However, adverse weather conditions continue to be a challenge for producers in the Central region. The frequency of rain, even with low intensity, prevents adequate preparation of areas for planting.