CNA asks Mapa to extend ZARC deadlines for 2nd harvest corn in Paraná and Mato Grosso

The Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA) sent, on Friday (26/02), to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) a letter to request, for 10 days, the extension of the period of Agricultural Risk Zoning Climatic (ZARC) for sowing second crop corn in Paraná and Mato Grosso.

In the document sent to the Secretary of Agricultural Policy, César Halum, the CNA justifies that the delays in planting soybeans in the first harvest and the rains in February led to a significant delay in the planting of off-season corn. According to data from the National Supply Company (Conab), only 20% of the corn area was sown until last week, while the deadlines indicated by ZARC had ended.

“Sowing after the indication of ZARC has consequences for producers, who lose the right to rural insurance subsidy and compensation in the case of production losses, in addition to Proagro coverage”, explains the president of the National Cereals and Fibers Commission and Oilseeds from CNA, Ricardo Arioli.

In Arioli's opinion, the request is necessary, because, although Mapa Ordinance 412/2020 provides that the ZARC will not be changed during the current harvest, second harvest corn is extremely important for internal supply.

According to Conab, there are only 7,3 million tons of corn in stock, the lowest volume in the last four years. At the same time, only domestic consumption is expected to grow by more than 5% in 2021. “Given this scenario, we count on the support of this Secretariat for the extension”, reinforces the president of the Commission.