Government of SC begins distribution of limestone to increase crop productivity

Rural producers in Santa Catarina count on support from the State Government to increase crop productivity. Starting this Monday, March 1st, the State Secretariat for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development will begin distributing 300 thousand tons of limestone, which should be used to correct the soil and increase agricultural production. The investment of R$23,6 million should serve more than 15 thousand rural producers in the state.

“This support is fundamental, and Santa Catarina is making agribusiness and family farming increasingly stronger. May we, through the Terra Boa Program, generate income opportunities for the development of the Santa Catarina economy and especially our rural producers”, highlights secretary Altair Silva.

The distribution of limestone is one of the support lines of the Terra Boa Program. Each farmer will be able to remove up to 30 tons of the product. In total, there will be 300 thousand tons divided into two modalities: via cooperative or directly from the mines.

If the farmer chooses to remove the limestone from the cooperatives, he will return the amount the next year with the results of the harvest. If you choose to collect from mining companies, the product is free and the producer bears the shipping cost.

Limestone is essential for soil correction and increased yield in plantations. According to the researcher at the Epagri Experimental Station in Ituporanga, Claudinei Kurtz, it is important to remember that limestone must be used after soil analysis, which will indicate the quantity of the input to be applied.

“In general, the soils in Santa Catarina are acidic and limestone is of great importance in neutralizing this acidity, increasing the availability and absorption of nutrients. All of this will result in increased productivity in the vast majority of commercial crops,” he explains.

Rural producers interested in participating in the Terra Boa Program should contact Epagri in their municipality.

Terra Boa Program

In 2021, R$56,5 million will be invested to support the acquisition of corn seeds, limestone and kits to improve pastures and soil, in addition to encouraging beekeeping and meliponiculture.

Terra Boa will encourage the acquisition of 200 thousand bags of corn; 300 thousand tons of limestone; 3 thousand forage kits; 500 beekeeping kits and a thousand healthy soil kits. The Program will have R$5 million more resources and the State Government intends to increase the number of beneficiaries. Last year, more than 70 thousand rural families were served.

Incentive for corn production

One of Terra Boa's main objectives is to encourage corn production in Santa Catarina. According to the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Altair Silva, the intention is to reduce grain imports and further strengthen Santa Catarina's agribusiness. "We will strive to encourage the production and productivity of corn in the state. The grain is one of the engines of our economy and is what makes the entire animal protein production chain turn. We want to depend less and less on imports from other states and increase local production", he highlighted.

Terra Boa is the result of an agreement signed between the Department of Agriculture and Fecoagro.