Citrus growers talk about how new technologies contribute to professionalized management

Citrus farming today is not for amateurs. This statement is unanimous among orange and lemon producers who remain firm and strong in this very challenging activity. And it's no wonder: since its advent in the 1970s, citrus farming has gone through different cycles and gone through adversities, going from the Golden Age to an implacable phase in the 2000s, when difficulties surrounding production and the market meant that so many producers migrated to other activities.

Currently, the culture is going through an interesting phase and pays the producer well. Citrus farming is linked to health. With the pandemic, the consumption of orange juice and citrus fruits increased, helping to increase immunity due to the high concentration of vitamin C. In a year in which the forecast was for lows, the pandemic increased consumption and prices, driven by the rise of the dollar, brought a more optimistic view to the sector.

But to take advantage of opportunities, technology and knowledge have become fundamental pieces. This is the case of citrus grower Fábio Cerutti, Agronomist from ESALQ-USP, who is the third generation of a family of citrus growers in the region of Monte Azul Paulista, SP. Fábio has been in charge of the family's production for over 20 years, and is categorical "today it is very difficult to produce oranges, the culture does not give space for those who want to venture out".

Despite the difficulties, the producer considers the activity rewarding and has been investing in the renovation and expansion of the orange orchards. Today, part of the farms produce sugar cane and livestock. Fabio lists what he considers important to keep the activity viable: "First, you have to create the perfect base. I don't abandon good consultancy. Technology is very helpful and we are starting to use machines with GPS to control spraying, application areas and speed".

With the Sentinello family, it is no different. In the region of Jales, SP, the brothers Paulo César, Marcos Luiz, Marcelo Renato and Moisés Henrique run a new citrus factory. "Last year, if we produced an average of 1.260 boxes per hectare, this year we believe it will reach 1.500", says Marcelo, who attributes the good results to investments in the orchard's care. "We applied better fertilization, with foliar technologies, amino acids. We also applied biological products, so this year there were almost no problems with mites, fungi and bacteria."

A strong name in the production of table oranges, the Bardin family entered the citrus industry in the opposite direction: the five brothers, Adilson, Antônio, Donizete, Paulo and Elso were market traders and sold fruits in open-air markets in the region of Campinas, SP.

Since then, the group has defended attention to the entire production process, from soil care, choice of seedlings and applied technologies, as a distinguishing feature of its production. "Orange is very dynamic and since 1980 the brothers have had this perception. Treatments have been changing year by year, the culture requires us to change management year by year, because of the climate, pests, diseases and we have already incorporated this profile of change, of growth. We have consultants working with us for over 30 years, and we are joining forces and always introducing new technologies", comments Eduardo, who says he does his best to implement innovations to improve production.

Citrus grower Rodrigo Cassarotti literally grew up inside Coopercitrus in Limeira, SP. In addition to living close to the cooperative, since he was a boy, he accompanied his father, Oscar Gomes Cassarotti, on visits to Coopercitrus to buy inputs for citrus production.

In addition to irrigation, the secret to Rodrigo's production are technologies to increase productivity and combat pests and diseases. "I really believe that the soil is the main thing. I give a lot of importance to fertility. There is nothing miraculous, a well-made base in limestone, gypsum, well-made fertilization. We work with foliar as a complement to achieve high productivity and I also do fertigation", he informs.

Daniel Lavrado is also the son of a citrus grower and at Sítio Progresso, in Marcondésia, SP, together with his father, Ademir and his brother, Danilo, he manages the production of 20 thousand orange trees, in a 100% irrigated orchard, with approximately 50 hectares. The family is a member of Coperfam (Family Agriculture Cooperative), and stands out for practicing highly technical agriculture, investing in technology and extracting interesting results.

"My father always said: in times of crisis, you plant oranges, because if you're in crisis, one time or another you have to improve, and that was our salvation. Another thing, he never stopped taking care of the oranges, analyzing the soil, adding limestone. My father always liked everything about technology, that's another advantage. When the bilateral sprayer came out, in 2004, we already bought it, so we saved oil, saved time".

With a complete portfolio of products, technology services and technical support with citrus experts, Coopercitrus continues to strengthen citrus growers, ensuring the best opportunities and the solution of the main challenges.