Rice Harvest is Officially Open in Capão do Leão (RS)

The 35th Official Opening of the Rice and Grain Harvest in Lowlands was held this Thursday (20/2) in an atmosphere of optimism among rice producers, with a growth in the planted area of ​​7,8%, compared to last year. The event, in the municipality of Capão do Leão, in the South Zone of the State, was attended by the acting governor, Gabriel Souza, and the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Sustainable Production and Irrigation (Seapi), Clair Kuhn, in addition to authorities, producers and entities from the sector.

Data released by the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga) indicate that Rio Grande do Sul planted 970.194 thousand hectares of rice this harvest. The state is currently responsible for around 70% of national production, with rice being the second most important product in Rio Grande do Sul's agriculture, behind only soybeans.

The governor emphasized the importance of rice cultivation to the state’s economy during the opening of the harvest. Souza highlighted the capacity of Rio Grande do Sul’s producers, who are responsible for 70% of rice production in Brazil, and pointed out that, despite the reduction in the planted area in previous years, there was an increase in the cultivated area and productivity this year, thanks to the use of technology and the commitment of farmers. He also mentioned the crucial role of Embrapa and Irga in research and technical assistance, stating that more than 60% of local production is the result of research by the Institute.

"The state government understands how important this crop and productive activity are and, above all, I would like to congratulate the efficiency and competence of the Rio Grande do Sul rice producers. We have invested heavily in actions that benefit agribusiness, such as more than R$1 billion in investments in highways, in addition to ensuring the appreciation of Irga professionals, who are essential for strengthening research and supporting rural producers," he emphasized.

The rice harvest is part of a program that began on Tuesday (18/2), with the theme “Food Production in the Pampa Gaúcho: A Vision of the Future”.

The president of the Federation of Rice Growers Associations of Rio Grande do Sul (Federarroz), Alexandre Velho, acknowledged the progress made by the agreement reached by the state government, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the entities Farsul, Fetag, and Federarroz regarding the Pampa Biome. “This is truly a step forward. We increasingly need support from the state in defending this sector, which is a key player in national rice production. Brazilian food security necessarily involves Rio Grande do Sul,” he stated.

Secretary Kuhn highlighted the importance of the sector in the economy of Rio Grande do Sul. “The production chain encompasses around 18 thousand producers in 180 municipalities, in addition to 200 processing industries, generating approximately 30 thousand direct jobs and 200 thousand indirect jobs,” he highlighted.

The 35th Official Opening of the Rice and Grain Harvest in Lowlands is an event organized by Federarroz and co-organized by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the National Rural Learning Service (Senar), in addition to the Premium Sponsorship of Irga and support from the Municipal Government of Capão do Leão. The event's theme was “Food Production in the Pampa Gaúcho – A Vision of the Future”.