Corn presented output increase of 34% in 2003, reaching 48.3 million tons and removing the risk of problems with supply, which had been occurring in the last few years, due to the reduction of planted area in favor of more profitable crops, such as soybeans. Being on top of the agricultural output ranking since 2002, soybeans had 23% of increase in production, reaching 51.9 million metric tons, and 13% of expansion of the planted area.

These data are highlights in the survey on Municipal Agricultural Production of 2003, which brings results for temporary and permanent crops, by Major Region and Federation Unit, by agricultural product, according to each Major Region and Federation Unit. The CD-ROM which comes enclosed with the publication also brings tables by geographic mesoregion and microregion and municipality, with information on planted area, area directed to planting, harvested area, amount produced, average yield and value of production.

The main reason accounting for the rise of corn was the 2nd crop of this product, which brough the increase of planted area and recorded excellent productivity figures after the good distribution of rain. The area planted, throughout the year, reached 13.3 million hectares. Almost half of the 48.3 million metric tons produced come from the South Region (24.1 million metric tons) and the state of Paraná was the main national producer, accounting for about 27% of the national output. Among the municipalities, Lucas do Rio Verde, in Mato Grosso, was a highlight as the main producer, surpassing Jataí, in Goías, which got the second position.

Wheat is also a highlight: it practically doubled its production (98% of increase) and expanded its planting by 19%. Its main producing municipalities are Tibagi, Cornélio Procópio and Toledo, all of them located in the state of Paraná. Rice recorded slight decrease (-1%) due to its fall in Rio Grande do Sul, the main national producer, where there was excess of rain. The main rice producing municipalities are located in this state. The biggest one is Uruguaiana, followed by Santa Vitória do Palmas and Itaqui.  

Sorriso, the main producer of soybeans, reached 1.6 million metric tons in 2003

Among the states, Mato Grosso is the main producer of soybeans, accounting for 24.9% of the Brazilian output, followed by Paraná (21.21%), Rio Grande do Sul (18.45%) and Goiás (22.17%). Among the municipalities, Sorriso (MT) is the main producer and recorded increase of 8% in relation to the previous harvest, reaching 1.6 million metric tons. That represented 12.34% of the state output. The municipality has the best IDH-M (Municipal Human Development Index) of Mato Grosso. With the development of agriculture in the state, some municipalities recorded annual population increase rates above the state rate (2.4% a year), the main highlight being the municipality of Sapezal, which recorded annual rate of 21.51% in the last few years.  

Another important crop in the Central West Region, upland cotton faced decrease of 9.07% of planted area, due to the option for soybeans, but good climate conditions relieved this decrease (-3.9% versus the previous harvest). The state of Mato Grosso accounted for 48.46% of the Brazilian harvest. The municipality of Campo Verde is the main producer of cotton, accounting for 11.9% of the whole state production.

Sorghum, grown under a crop rotation system with soybeans, was also a highlight in the Central West and has been an alternative to replace corn – 2^nd crop, due to its bigger resistance against harsh weather conditions.  In 2003, there was increase of 129.4% in output in relation to the previous harvest, bu productivity is still low in Brazil (2,394 kg/ha), when compared to that of other countries. Goiás is the main producer, accounting for 35.37% of the national output.  Among its municipalities, Rio Verde, which is also the main producer of soybeans in Goiás, is the principal one and represents 19% of the state output.  

Jaguaré, in Espírito Santo, leads coffee production in Brazil

Coffee, which was from São Paulo once, now comes from Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. These states are the main Brazilian producers, being responsible for, respectively, 44.63% and 23.97% of the Brazilian output. The municipality of Jaguaré (ES) is the main Brazilian producer of coffee, followed closely by Patrocínio (MG). The product, with a plant that alternates between periods of high and low productivity, faced, in 2003, decrease of 33.34% in relation to the previous harvest.

Itápolis (SP) is the main national producer of oranges

The main producers of oranges are found in São Paulo, a state which accounts for 79% of all the Brazilian output. The only exception is the municipality of Rio Real, located in Bahia. It is the sixth biggest national producer, accounting for 38.86% of the national output of oranges. Brazil is the main producer and exporter of orange juice and holds 50% of the world's production, out of which only 3% remained in the domestic market.  

Another important crop in São Paulo is sugarcane. This state accounts for 57.6% of the Brazilian production. In 2003, good weather conditions led to increase of output by 2.0%. The highlight is the municipality of Morro Agudo, with planted area of 93 thousand hectares and 8.4 million metric tons produced.  

São Paulo is also the biggest Brazilian producer of banana, followed by Bahia and Pará, and this activity is well distributed in the other states. São Félix do Xingu, in Pará, is the main producer in the country in terms of harvested area (11,475 ha), but not in terms of productivity. The state of Pará is the third main producer of pineapple, especially in the municipality of Floresta do Araguaia.  

Petrolina is the main producer of mango in the country

Irrigation, together with the good price of land and the availability of manpower, gave the North Region some advantages in fruticulture: it is the principal producer of pineapple, cacao, coconut, guava, papaya, mango, melon, passion fruit and cashew nuts.  

Considering mango crops, the state of Bahia was a highlight as the main Brazilian producer. Among the municipalities, Petrolina, in Pernambuco, responsible for a pioneer irrigation program, is the main producer of the fruit in the country, followed by Juazeiro and Livramento de Nossa Senhora, both located in Bahia.