Polo wants to stimulate the production of high value-added fruits in the DF and in 33 cities in Goiás and MG

Stimulate the production of fruits with higher added value among small and medium-sized rural producers in the Federal District, 29 municipalities in Goiás and four in Minas Gerais. This is one of the goals of Ride's Fruit Growing Hub (integrated region and development that involves the DF and other municipalities). The initiative involves the ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Regional Development, the São Francisco and Parnaíba Valleys Development Company (Codevasf) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

On October 22nd, the result of the notice for contracting services and structuring the project will be announced, which provides for a communication plan, preparation of a pilot interactive platform for monitoring and evaluating the work and production of the strategic development plan for the hub. .

The project coordinator at the Federal Superintendence of Agriculture of the Federal District, Willian Barbosa, highlights that this is an important step for the hub to “get off the ground”. Initially, R$950 will be allocated to structuring the project.

Cultivation of high-value-added fruits in the Federal District

The emphasis in the Federal District will be the cultivation of fruits with high added value such as blueberries (also called blueberries), raspberries and others from a temperate climate, such as grapes.

The objectives include promoting the use of natural resources and adding value to products. The target audience will be small and medium-sized rural producers dedicated to environmentally sustainable actions, such as the use of drip irrigation, as well as fruit processing companies and innovative startups. The formation of producer associations and cooperatives will also be encouraged.

According to the DF Irrigated Agriculture Master Plan (PDAI-DF), there is a deficit in fruit production and consumption equivalent to 37.768 tons/year. The products with the highest demand compared to production are: pineapple, orange, papaya, mango, strawberry and grape.

Codevasf's special projects coordinator, Luiz Curado, calculates that the initial demand for blueberry seedlings should be 30 to 40 thousand units, with production potential in up to eight months as they are irrigated. The estimated production is 30 tons per hectare, with a profitability of approximately R$300 per hectare, if a kilo of fruit is sold at R$8.

Currently, the Biotechnology Unit at the University of Brasília (UnB) produces the seedlings.

The coordinator adds that blueberries require manual harvesting, which will represent a significant number of new jobs.

Blueberry consumption has become popular around the world and is recommended by doctors and nutritionists for its health benefits, such as its high content of natural antioxidants.

National Integration Routes

Ride's Fruit Growing Hub is part of the National Integration Routes, of the National Secretariat for Mobility and Regional and Urban Development, of the Ministry of Regional Development.

Once created, the routes work with interconnected networks of Local Production Arrangements (APLs) to promote innovation, differentiation, competitiveness and profitability of associated enterprises.

In total, there are ten types of routes in the country: Açaí; Biodiversity; Cocoa; of the Lamb; Circular Economy; Fruit Growing; of Milk; of Honey; of Fish; and Information and Communication Technology. The work takes place in 800 municipalities in the five regions of the country.