Agriculture
Estimates point to grain harvest increase of 1.9% against 2018
February 12, 2019 09h00 AM | Last Updated: February 12, 2019 11h28 AM
The national output of grains is expected to increase 1.9% in 2019, in comparison with the amount harvested last year, amounting to 230.7 million metric tons, according to the estimate of the Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production (LSPA), released today by the IBGE. As a result, this year’s harvest is expected to be the second biggest in the time series, after the 240.6 million metric tons produced in 2017.
The area to be harvested is expected to amount to 62.1 million hectares, with an increase of 2% against last year. Versus the last estimate, the current figure is considered to be stable (-0.1%).
The LSPA also showed that corn is expected to record the biggest increase in volume, 9.9% against the previous harvest, amounting to a total 89.4 million metric tons and an increase of 3.6% in the planted area. According to the manager of the survey, Carlos Antônio Barradas, the second crop must be benefited by the planting window.
“Because of the early planting of soybeans last year, corn should be planted earlier this year as well, which leads to a lower risk for the development of crops, since the occurrence of dry periods is reduced in this cycle. Also, prices are more attractive to producers and they may invest in new technologies too”, Barradas highlights.
With an estimated increase of 8.9% in output and 18.5% in planted area against 2018, cotton is expected to have a record harvest this year, a total 5.4 million metric tons. “The positive results of crops last year and the attractive prices of this crop must foster investments in cotton”, the manager explains.
Soybeans, rice, beans and coffee expected to have a smaller output
Soybeans (-2.6%), rice (-5%), beans (-1.5%) and coffee (-10.8%) are expected to face decreases in output this year. “Climate conditions are less beneficial to soybeans, rice and beans in 2019. Coffee, in turn, is currently in the negative biennial cycle, which is common in the Brazilian coffee production. One year records a big output, whereas in the other, the opposite takes place”.
