Tobacco harvest officially opens in Rio Grande do Sul

Authorities and representatives of the production chain attended today (8/11) the 6th Official Opening of the Tobacco Harvest, in Rio Pardo (RS). Promoted by the Secretariats of Rural Development and Agriculture, Livestock, Sustainable Production and Irrigation, with the support of the Interstate Union of the Tobacco Industry (SindiTabaco) and the Association of Tobacco Growers of Brazil (Afubra), the program was held at the Afubra Expoagro Park, in the locality of Rincão Del Rey, in Rio Pardo (RS).

Afubra’s president, Marcilio Drescher, welcomed the leaders who are advocates of the production chain, speaking about his joy at being able to host the event. “The official opening recognized the sector for the importance of income for producer families and financial return to municipalities. When another crop is heading towards harvest, it is a milestone for producers to start with the hope that the fruits of their labor will be recognized. So far, this is a crop that is heading towards being normal in quality and productivity. However, after the harvest comes the commercialization and we are anxious and hopeful that we will have a good price”, commented Drescher.

Valmor Thesing, president of SindiTabaco, thanked Afubra for its support and for providing the park for the event. “The opening of the tobacco harvest is a festive and celebratory event that highlights the importance of the tobacco production chain, this centuries-old crop that generates income and employment, exports foreign currency and generates taxes. It is also a moment to honor the work of men and women who generate wealth for the municipalities and the State, to renew the strength of our Integrated Production System and, consequently, Brazil’s leadership in the global tobacco market,” emphasized Thesing.

Rio Grande do Sul accounts for 43% of the tobacco production in southern Brazil, which reached 2023 thousand tons in the 2024/508 harvest in the southern region of Brazil. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul alone, the activity involves almost 70 thousand producers in around 200 municipalities. The Secretary of Rural Development, Vilson Covatti, provided information on the state's family farming scenario, especially tobacco farming, mentioning social and economic figures for the activity and praising the organization of the production chain. He also shared the state government's concern, especially the SDR, for soil recovery. "We are prepared to make the largest contribution of resources for soil recovery, aiming to increase productivity, quality and income," commented Covatti.

Incorporated into the official agenda of the Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, since 2017 the opening of the harvest has become a festive event and has already been held in different tobacco-producing regions in the State. The last five editions were hosted in Venâncio Aires (2017), Canguçu (2018), Arroio do Tigre (2019), Vale do Sol (2021) and São Lourenço do Sul (2022).

Clair Kuhn, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Sustainable Production and Irrigation (Seapi), spoke about the resources for irrigation that are available to producers. “I know how important technical assistance is, whether from Emater or from companies in the sector. Tobacco producers have never had the chance to get government resources. Today, producers have that opportunity. Phase 1 of the irrigation project had 264 projects approved and we already have another 400 under analysis, including from producers in this region,” said Kuhn, urging producers to seek more information on the subject and declaring the tobacco harvest in Rio Grande do Sul open.

Representatives of the Association of Tobacco Producing Municipalities (Amprotabaco), the Tobacco Production Chain Sector Chamber, Emater, as well as state and federal deputies, mayors and councilors from the region also participated in the event.

Safe harvest 

Harvesting is synonymous with income, but also with health and safety. It is time to pay extra attention to safe harvesting, using the right clothing and following the recommendations regarding the most appropriate times of day for the task. “Safe and decent work is important for our business and the producers’ representatives are with us in this mission to raise awareness about these issues, in a clear demonstration of the important role that the integrated tobacco production system plays in the lives of thousands of people in rural areas,” reinforced Valmor Thesing, president of SindiTabaco.