Epamig implements 50 new rice demonstration areas

The Minas Gerais Agricultural Research Corporation (Epamig), in partnership with Emater-MG and the Federal University of Lavras (Ufla), has begun implementing 50 Demonstration Units (UDs) for Upland Rice in municipalities in the Jequitinhonha Valley, Northern Minas Gerais, Southern Minas Gerais and Zona da Mata Mineira. The action is part of the work of Genetic Improvement and Diffusion of Technologies on the crop that is expanding in the state.

“In 2023, together with Emater-MG, we will implement 38 demonstration units with the aim of testing the cultivars and training family farmers to supply rice to the National School Feeding Program (PNAE). Demand has increased this year and more than 100 interested parties have contacted us. As in 2024, we are celebrating Epamig’s 50th anniversary, we selected 50 family producers to receive the UDs”, explains Epamig researcher Janine Guedes, responsible for the work.

Rice is a non-perennial crop that requires replanting from season to season. For this reason, the work team intends to train farmers so that they can manage their areas in the next plantings. The average production cycle varies between 120 and 130 days from planting to harvest, which, in these units, should occur from February onwards.

“We are evaluating long-grain Agulhinha rice cultivars, which have the highest commercial value, are more resistant to water deficits and are adapted to dryland regions. Sowing takes place between mid-October and early December, so that there is rain during the flowering period,” says the researcher.

In the second half of October, Janine visited the Medina region in the Jequitinhonha Valley to implement the UDs. In the week of November 11, the planting will take place in Guaxupé, in the south of Minas Gerais, in an area intercropped with coffee. “We are going to meet the demand of producers who want to take advantage of the space in the coffee streets to grow rice,” says Janine. In the weeks of November 18 and 25, the team will go to the regions of Janaúba (North of Minas Gerais) and Juiz de Fora (Zona da Mata), respectively.

Expanding activity

Rice cultivation in Minas Gerais has been increasing in recent years. The planted area, which was 3 hectares in 2023, increased to 18 hectares in 2024 and is expected to reach 45 hectares in 2025. “The price is good and we have had a high demand for seeds, coming from family farmers and, mainly, from large grain producers”, reveals Janine Guedes, adding that Epamig is preparing to resume the commercialization of rice seeds.

The researcher draws attention to the emergence of new producing regions. “This is very important, since we have a large concentration of production in Rio Grande do Sul. This year, the climate tragedy in that state affected production and the country only avoided a supply crisis because it had stocks of grain.”