Brazilian agricultural income from the 20 main crops in Brazil is going to total 156 billion reais (US$ 75.1 billion), according to estimates disclosed this Monday, May 11, by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. If confirmed, the figure will be 3.2% lower than last year's.
Despite the reduction, according to the ministry, the result will be the second highest since 1997, second only to the 2008 result. The forecast presented yesterday is higher than the one made in April. The ministry runs the survey on a monthly basis.
According to the Ministry, the income forecast for nine crops should grow in comparison with 2008: grape (218.5%), peanut (21.17%), rice (21.1%), cocoa (19.7%), cassava (14.3%), black pepper (7.2%), sugarcane (5.9%), potato (4.82%) and orange (4.66%).
Reductions are expected in income from corn (-26.4%), cottonseed (-22.8%), wheat (-19.3%), coffee (-14%), onion (-13.5%), tomato (-12.4%), bean (-8.9%), tobacco (-2.6%), banana (-2.1%) and soybean (-1.59%).
According to the ministry, drought, which occurred in November and December 2008 and in March and April 2009, had a negative impact on the output of the southern Brazilian states and of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in the Midwest.
The most seriously affected crops were soybean and corn. In the South, which comprises the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná, an 11% decrease in grain production is expected in comparison with 2008.
Anba
