RS 2024/25 Harvest: weather damages vegetables in the State
Rain and low light levels favor diseases and delay field management in several crops
The 2024/25 cotton harvest is progressing in western Bahia and has already reached around 25% of the cultivated area, estimated at 413,1 thousand hectares. The Bahian Cotton Producers Association (Abapa) is maintaining, for now, the projection released in March: 787,6 thousand tons of processed cotton, despite the first signs of a drop in average productivity.
According to the entity, the productivity initially estimated at 1.907 kg/ha was adjusted to 1.783 kg/ha - a reduction of 6,5%. The occurrence of dry spells in March, with up to 30 consecutive days without rain in some regions, is indicated as the main factor for the drop.
Still, the expectation is that the total volume harvested will not be significantly impacted, due to the 19,6% expansion in the irrigated area of the Bahian savannah, compared to the previous harvest. “We still have a lot of harvesting ahead of us until we reach a more precise number,” said Alessandra Zanotto Costa, president of Abapa.
The scenario of the Bahian harvest was presented by Alessandra earlier this week, during the 79th Ordinary Meeting of the Sector Chamber of the Cotton and Derivatives Production Chain. The event was held in São Paulo, as part of the XXII Anea Cotton Dinner Golf & Tournament, promoted by the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea).
During the meeting, the president of the Brazilian Cotton Producers Association (Abrapa), Gustavo Piccoli, also highlighted the good moment of the crop in Brazil. The national planted area grew 10,2% in relation to the 2023/24 cycle, reaching 2,14 million hectares. National production is expected to reach 3,96 million tons, an increase of 7,1% in the annual comparison.
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