Cotton sanitary void in Tocantins begins this Saturday (20)

The cotton crop fallow period begins this Saturday, November 20th, and continues until November 20th. The goal of this calendar is to prevent and control the boll weevil, the main pest affecting the crop. During the fallow period, cotton cultivation and planting are prohibited. In the 2024/2025 harvest, 14,5 hectares were cultivated in the state.

According to Cleovan Barbosa, technical manager of the State Boll Weevil Control Program at the Agricultural Defense Agency (Adapec), cotton growers must be aware of the legislation to avoid keeping live plants in the field.

"During the sanitary break, Adapec will monitor areas where cotton was grown to maintain phytosanitary safety. If plants are found, the producer will be notified to eliminate them mechanically or chemically, as this is the responsibility of the owner or occupant of the area. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in legal penalties," Cleovan Barbosa noted.

Data

In the 2024/2025 harvest, 14,5 hectares of cotton were registered with Adapec, a 58% increase compared to the previous harvest, when 8,5 hectares were registered. The municipalities that stood out in production were Campos Lindos, Dianópolis, and Nova Rosalândia.

Cotton boll weevil

Adults are gray or brown beetles, measuring 3 mm to 7 mm in length. They infest cotton crops from the moment flower buds appear until harvest, with four to six generations in a single crop cycle. If left unchecked, they can cause production losses of up to 70%.