Tobacco income per hectare exceeds grains by 700%

Tobacco production continues to be one of the most profitable agricultural activities in the Southern Region of Brazil, especially on small properties. The high profitability per hectare allows investments in technology, crop diversification and improvements that improve the quality of life of rural families.

According to a survey conducted by the Brazilian Tobacco Growers Association (Afubra), with data from Conab, this difference is based on the income obtained by the producer per hectare of tobacco, which is R$45.989,85. When compared to other crops, the superior income is clear. For example, in relation to soybeans, which yield the producer R$5.755,88 per hectare, the profit is 700% higher. 

In corn, a crop in which the producer can earn R$7.008,80 per hectare of crops, the amount obtained with tobacco is 556,3% higher. To obtain income similar to that obtained from a hectare of tobacco, the producer would need 7,99 hectares of soybeans or 6,56 hectares of corn.

For Valmor Thesing (pictured above), president of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco), the figures reinforce the strategic role of tobacco cultivation not only for the economic viability of small properties, but also for rural succession. “It is through tobacco that producers guarantee income to support their families with dignity and are able to remain in agricultural activity even with small areas of land,” he says.

Area and production 

According to Afubra, tobacco production occupies approximately 310 thousand hectares in the three states of the Southern Region, enabling production of more than 696 thousand tons and approximately R$ 14,3 billion in income for the producer. In soybean, there are 13.535.700 hectares of crops, with production of 38.954.900 tons and R$ 77,909 billion in income for the producers. And in corn, the Southern Region has 3.988.600 hectares of crops, with production of 27.955.300 tons and revenue of R$ 27,955 billion for the producers.