The rice harvest in Rio Grande do Sul, to date, has reached 83% of the total planned area and what has already been harvested has good quality and productivity, which guarantees the supply of Brazilians. The information is from the Federation of Rice Growers Associations of Rio Grande do Sul (Federarroz).
According to the entity’s president, Alexandre Velho, within the range of 83% already harvested, there are good productivity averages. “We already have a good volume of rice and even if we have difficulties in harvesting this balance that remains to be harvested, Rio Grande do Sul is certainly fully capable of harvesting a harvest well above seven million tons. Although we have this big problem regarding the harvest of what is missing, we are fully able to say that we have no problems regarding supply to the domestic market”, he guarantees.
According to the director, there is a momentary logistics problem, mainly in the connection with the interior of Rio Grande do Sul. “But the connection with the large centers via BR-101 is normal, we have plenty of rice to move to the central regions of Brazil . So there is no problem regarding supply or an urgent need for imports. Brazil is a large rice producer, the area has increased here in Rio Grande do Sul, as well as in other producing states. So there is no reason for us to have any warning regarding supply problems in relation to rice”, he assesses.
Velho emphasizes that this is a time to help producers, let the waters recede so they can reach the crops and, in this way, be able to quantify and really see the size of the damage.