Tocantins presents distinct stages in the peanut, rice and cassava production chains

Very different agricultural cultures and with different moments in terms of production and presence, in the field, in Tocantins. Peanuts, rice and cassava were discussed during an event promoted by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock Development (Seagro) in partnership with institutions such as Embrapa, the Institute of Rural Development of the State of Tocantins (Ruraltins) and the Municipality of Palmas.

The so-called technical day took place on the morning of Wednesday, June 28, at the Agrotechnological Center of Palmas (Agrotins), in the capital of Tocantins. There were presentations by three Embrapa researchers. Daniel Fragoso, from Embrapa Arroz e Feijão (Santo Antônio de Goiás-GO), spoke about rice cultivation. Valdinei Sofiatti, from Embrapa Algodão (Campina Grande-PB), addressed peanuts. Finally, Gustavo Campos, from Embrapa Pesca and Aquaculture (Palmas-TO), a unit that maintains a research center on agricultural systems, spoke about cassava.

Daniel commented that, today, the producer has Embrapa cultivars available for the two production systems practiced in the state. Both for highland rice, widely cultivated in the municipalities of Tocantins, and for irrigated rice, found further west of the state, the producer can find BRS varieties, which identify Embrapa products. And more options are coming in the coming years.

There are two ongoing partnerships that should soon bear fruit. One with the private company Basf and the other with the State University of Tocantins (Unitins). Tocantins, in the last harvest, was the third state that produced the most rice in the country, after Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. There were 674 thousand tons in 2016/2017, 9,5% more than production in the previous harvest. The numbers were released in June by the National Supply Company (Conab).

Alternative – If rice is an established and growing agricultural crop in Tocantins, the same cannot be said about peanuts. Still incipient in the state, this crop is planted in the second harvest. In Brazil as a whole, around 96% of the peanuts produced are in the first harvest. The information is also from the same survey carried out by Conab.

However, this reality may be better in Tocantins. According to researcher Valdinei, for Tocantins, “we have three commercially available upright varieties, which have a shorter cycle, better adapted to small areas, small producers, and more tolerant to drought. From next year onwards, we will have three more varieties registered with the ministry, which are creeping and intended for large areas and with very high productivity”. The state's soil and climate conditions are favorable for peanut cultivation, which is an agricultural crop with high added value.

Cassava is traditional among producers in Tocantins, as well as in other Brazilian states. Embrapa coordinates a project that aims to collaborate in the development of the production chain for this crop in Tocantins. The person coordinating this project is researcher Gustavo, who has been commenting on the so-called productivity trio, a methodology developed by Embrapa in the North of the country.

He talks about the three bases of the methodology: “the first would be selecting a good seed, from a quality seed, with five to seven buds, with a diameter of one inch, that is, one that guarantees good germination, good sprouting. Another step would be planning the area, with fertilization, with adequate spacing (here in the region, we use 1m X 1m). And the third leg of this process would be weed control, avoiding weed competition, preventing cassava from suffering competition from weeds, from weeds because this competition reduces root productivity by up to 90%.”

The recommended period for producers to keep their crops free of weeds is approximately four initial months. With the three practices together, it is possible to considerably increase the productivity of cassava crops; until it doubles, according to Gustavo. Simple practices, accessible to all producers and that can help them earn more income from their activity.