Use of biotechnology and drones drives resumption of cotton farming in Catuti

The use of cutting-edge biotechnology combined with precise drone spraying has led producers in Catuti to record an average increase of 27% in cotton planting productivity this year compared to the previous harvest. The region, which encompasses 16 municipalities in northern Minas Gerais, planted 130 hectares of the crop in the 1980s. However, with the impact of the boll weevil, production has decreased.

The big recovery came in 2024, when 85 small farmers associated with Coopercat (Cooperativa dos Produtores Rurais de Catuti) began to benefit from Bayer's donation of certified cotton seeds with Bollgard 3 biotechnology and a drone that impacted more effective management, and increased productivity and sustainability in planting, based on better precision in pest control and greater safety in spraying.

“We are managing to make progress again in cotton planting thanks to certified biotechnology seeds, which provide protection and productivity to the cotton plant and allow for more effective management of diseases and pests. Today we are planting the same variety used by large producers and the result is clearly reflected in the increase in yield and fiber quality,” highlights José Tibúrcio de Carvalho Filho, technical advisor at Coopercat and one of the leaders of the project to resume cotton production in northern Minas Gerais.

Bayer donated approximately 100 bags of certified Deltapine seeds, varieties DP 1866 B3RF and DP 1857 B3RF. The seeds, which have a medium-early cycle, are characterized by stability and adaptability in harvest and second harvest environments. Designed to perform well in different contexts, the biotechnology present in the seed offers increased protection against the main caterpillars that attack cotton, in addition to being varieties that are more resistant to blue disease and bacterial blight.

To generate greater efficiency, safety and sustainability in management, producers carried out drone spraying in the last harvest. The result was a complete reduction in damage caused by the cotton boll weevil, maintaining the amount of insecticide applied but reducing the spray solution by 96%.

“In total, with the training of four operators, we were able to use the drone on 352 hectares, with properties ranging in size from 1 to 35 hectares. The use of cutting-edge biotechnology in the region has proven promising and we have had excellent results on small properties. The expectation is to expand to 800 hectares in the future and collect data to measure the impact,” explains Tibúrcio.

“We are pleased to be part of this recovery of productivity among cotton producers in northern Minas Gerais, an action that is fully in line with our global commitment to supporting the development of small producers through technology transfer, training and education. This movement to advance cotton farming on small properties proves that through collaboration and the exchange of experiences, it is possible to overcome challenges, regardless of the region or size of the property,” says Geraldo Berger, leader of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs for Bayer Latam’s agricultural division.

Through a partnership with the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), the Minas Gerais Cotton Producers Association (AMIPA), the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, PROALMINAS/SEAPA/G and the Catuti Cotton Technology Diffusion Center, Coopercat has sought knowledge for the development of family farming, in addition to mapping the evolution of cotton farming in the region with the adoption of technologies that improve productivity, irrigation, spraying and marketing of the fiber.

With these advances, cotton farmers in the region hope to be able to rotate cotton with sorghum or corn in the future. “We still have a challenge in processing the fiber here, but we have plans to expand. In the case of sorghum and corn, we have had an even greater impact with the use of technology. In the previous conventional management, we needed 3 to 4 applications, eliminating 10% of the caterpillars. With the drone, 1 to 2 applications were carried out and we eliminated the damage caused by the caterpillars”, adds Tibúrcio.