Entities dispute Conab figures on the rice harvest

The Federation of Rice Growers Associations of Rio Grande do Sul (Federarroz) and the Agriculture Federation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Farsul) issued a joint statement contesting the rice harvest figures released by the National Supply Company (Conab).

In the statement, the entities expressed their deep concern about the "new round of misinformation regarding data on area, productivity and rice production" that are being released by the agency.

According to the note, the entities recall that last year the Brazilian government was willing to "waste R$7,2 billion to buy imported rice", with the intention of selling it at a fixed price and below the cost of production, under the allegation that there would be a shortage of rice for the domestic consumer. "We said, clearly, that there would be no shortage of rice and there was no shortage, in any supermarket in Brazil, not for a single day or for a single minute, despite the panic caused among the population by the government itself", the statement noted.

The entities reinforce that the government released through Conab "incorrect data on rice production", overestimating production with the clear intention of intervening in cereal prices, which could cause more problems for producers, industries, retailers and, mainly, consumers.

"We inform that, according to the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga), an agency that, unlike Conab, carries out field surveys and has been doing so for several decades, the planted area actually grew in relation to 2024, but by 2,69% and not 9,7% as is erroneously being reported by Conab. Although it may seem small, this error could cost the country billions of Reais", they highlight.

In the statement, Federarroz and Farsul reassure society and say that, as usual, much more will be produced than Brazilians consume, which will force us to export surpluses, with no risk of shortages.

"Finally, we are concerned about the setbacks we have seen with the federal government's official information system. More directors are leaving IBGE because they do not agree with that institute's new policy for the way data is produced and disseminated, while Conab continues to report data that aligns with ideological interests, but that diverges from the observed reality", concludes the note.