Opinion – Vaivém: Wheat production exceeds that of rice in the South region

The production of wheat in the South region surpassed that of rice for the first time since the 1980s. In that decade, wheat production advanced and, in 1986, reached 5.2 million tons. Already the country’s total data showed a balance between the two cereals in last year’s harvest.

Last year, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul harvested 9.11 million tons of wheat, above the 8.81 million tons of rice, according to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) harvest survey.

Current perspectives indicate a return of rice to leadership this year, although weather and international prices may still interfere in this picture.

While rice has been registering a continuous drop in the area planted over the years, wheat reached a record in the space used for planting last year.

In IBGE calculations, the area with rice should retreat another 8.3% in the South in this 2023 crop, which is in development, while the retraction in wheat, after the 2022 record, will be 3.7%.

This exchange of positions is good for Rio Grande do Sul, leader in the national production of both cereals. The state loses with rice, whose area shrinks year after year, but gains with wheat, which advances.

The state records an annual decline in rice production, but productivity improves, since planting, due to costs and profitability, is concentrated in the best areas, those with more water.
Last year, 53% of the wheat produced in Brazil came from the fields of Rio Grande do Sul. The share of rice was 70%.

For 2023, the area of ​​Rio Grande do Sul’s rice crop is defined and decreases by 9.7% compared to 2022. Productivity and production will also depend on weather conditions. The state has again experienced a water crisis this year, which affects the supply of water for rice crops.

The wheat area, which will be sown in the second half, is expected to fall by 4.3%, compared to the 2022 record.

The advance of wheat last year was due to good foreign prices, caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine and by the new foreign markets conquered by the state for the cereal.

Last year, Brazil exported a record 3.07 million tons of wheat. Of this volume, 2.96 million left Rio Grande do Sul.

With the national production record —10 million tons—, the country reduced imports to 5.72 million tons in 2022, the lowest volume in seven harvests.

Brazil remains, however, dependent on the foreign market. The annual consumption of wheat is 12 million.
Rio Grande do Sul also stands out in rice exports. Last year, Brazil placed 2.11 million tons of cereal on the foreign market, practically all of this volume left through Rio Grande do Sul.

still warm Exports of rice and wheat returned to high levels in the first month of this year, according to data released by Secex (Secretary of Foreign Trade).

still warm 2 In January, the country exported 128 thousand tons of rice, 19% more than in the same month last year. In the case of wheat, it was 562 thousand tons, slightly below the January 2022 record.

production value The Brazilian VBP (Gross Production Value) should reach R$ 1.27 trillion, 6.3% more than in 2022, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Production value 2 The VBP of crops (17 products) rises to R$901 billion, up 10.5%, but that of livestock retreats to R$364 billion, down 2.7%.

ranking Soy, with revenues of R$ 401 billion, leads this year’s Gross Production Value. Mato Grosso, with R$ 211 billion, leads the ranking of states.

Food Average food prices dropped to the lowest level since the end of September in the city of São Paulo, according to Fipe (Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas).

Food 2 In the first quadrissemana of February (last 30 days compared to the 30 immediately preceding), prices had an average change of 0.19%. Milk, rice and beans, however, are trending upwards.

Changes…In the most recent harvest release, the IBGE pointed out in a table that, in 1975, Brazil planted 32.9 million hectares and obtained 39.4 million tons of grains.

…deep This year, the country will sow 75.8 million hectares and obtain 302 million tons of grain, if the weather helps. The numbers indicate that, in 1975, the average productivity was 1,200 kg per hectare. It currently weighs 3,984 kg.