The Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company of Minas Gerais (Emater-MG) and the Minas Gerais Association of Cotton Producers (Amipa) signed a partnership to disseminate sustainable agricultural practices and research on the use of biological pest control in crops mining. The ceremony took place during Amipa Field Day, held at the association's Experimental Farm and considered one of the main cotton farming events in Minas Gerais.
The agreement was signed by the CEO of Emater-MG Otávio Maia, the president of Amipa Daniel Bruxel and the vice-president of the association, Inácio Carlos Urban. The document provides for technical visits to be carried out with cotton producers to collect data regarding sustainability gains on properties using biological control techniques.
“Amipa does very good work in the area of sustainability of cotton crops and has a biofactory (located in Uberlândia), where insects are produced, which are natural enemies of the main pests of cotton and other crops. Emater-MG to validate the benefits of this technology on cotton properties in Minas Gerais”, explains the Technical Director of Emater-MG, Gelson Soares.
Emater-MG and Amipa will develop a joint methodology to verify whether properties that use biological control are more sustainable and economical. “Today we have reached 80 thousand hectares of area treated with natural enemies, which will continue to expand. And we noticed that producers greatly reduce the use of agricultural pesticides, especially insecticides. Furthermore, plastics no longer go to farming; there is a reduction in diesel oil consumption, as there is no need for a tractor, and other secondary benefits. We have some numbers from this work that are not credited and that is why we chose Emater to verify and measure this data”, explains the executive director of Amipa, Lício Sairre.
According to the director of Amipa, Emater-MG is a serious institution, with credibility and presence in several municipalities. “We realized that Emater-MG has the expertise to carry out this work, as it carries out the diagnosis and measurement for farm certification. So Emater-MG emerged as a natural partner and we hope to be very successful in this project.”
The Minas Gerais Association of Cotton Producers (Amipa) is a civil entity, with no economic purposes, which has been dedicated for more than two decades to promoting and strengthening sustainable cotton farming in Minas Gerais and supporting its associated producers in the evolution of cotton enterprises. . In 2024, according to the association, cotton production will be 3,5 million tons, an increase of 12,2% compared to the previous harvest.
In May, Brazil recorded a significant increase in its cotton exports, with a total volume of 229,4 thousand tons, generating revenue of US$488 million. These numbers represent growth of 280% compared to the same period of the previous year. The average price per ton of cotton sold increased by 6,1% compared to 2023. In Minas Gerais, the planted area was 32.106 thousand hectares (24,21% greater than the planted area compared to the previous harvest) and the total projected production of cotton fiber is 65 thousand tons.
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