Anuário Brasileiro do Arroz 2011 - Unemat

Even the organizers were surprised
at the result: more than 12 thousand
people, including producers, technicians,
entrepreneurs and representatives of other
segments of the production chain attended
the 21st Official Harvest Opening
ceremony, from 24 to 26 February 2011,
in Camaquã (RS). The expectation had
been for eight thousand people to show
up at the Rural Union Park, but on
Saturday alone, 26th February, when
state governor Tarso Genro inaugurated
the event, there were eight thousand
people visiting the stands, technology
windows and other attractions.
The president of the Federation of the
Ricegrowers’ Associations in Rio Grande
do Sul (Federarroz), Renato Rocha, recalls
that the commercialization crisis of
the cereal led the growers of Rio Grande
do Sul and Santa Catarina to attend
the event. “We are all worried about the
prices for the 2011 crop and about the
risks the activity is facing”. According to
him, the event achieved its objectives
and he takes it that the announcements
by the government met the sector’s ex-
pectations. “What we regret is the delay
in implementing the measures, as some
of them only entered into force in April,
such as the option contract auctions. In
the meantime, prices continued on the
decline”, he stresses.
The sectorial leader, nonetheless,
points out that the announced measures
do not put an end to the claims. “We
know they are only palliative and our target
is the implementation of a real agricultural
policy. We are engaged in reducing
the tax burden levied on rice production
and sales, so as to counterbalance
the advantages enjoyed by Mercosur in
the domestic market, for example”, he
clarifies. A policy favorable to exports
and restrictive to imports is also needed
to keep the market in balance.
“There is a feeling that the sector
deserves a better treatment and what
also exists is a construction of future
processes intended to equalize some of
the most critical points in the agricultural
policy system and the injustices
against the rice production segment”,
comments the president of the federa-
Joint
effort
Official Rice Harvest
Opening Ceremony
represents a milestone in
the sector’s joint efforts
and an opportunity
to debate strategies
and demands of the
production chain
tion. In his opinion, during the technical
debates it became evident that the
category and the production chain know
perfectly what their big problems are and
these topics are being dealt with emphasis
among the sectorial entities and the
government.
Major complaints include high tax
burden levied on rice production and
sales, which increases the cost and weakens
competitiveness; the unfavorable exchange
rate; the lack of phytosanitary inspections
on rice imported from Mercosur
countries; the unfeasibility of the new
rice grading policy and the deficient logistics
for export operations.
Regarding the 21st Official Harvest
Opening event, Rocha refers to the technical
side of the program, the presence
of relevant authorities and the presence
of a huge number of visitors as the highlights
of the ceremony, while the debates
with government representatives were
also significant. The next edition of the
event has been scheduled for February
2012, in the municipality of Restinga
Seca (RS).
HAVING ITS DAY
Rice, a crop that occupies huge planted areas, is also a good alternative for family farming operations, where smaller fields
prevail. Within this context, the cereal was included in the program of Expoagro Afubra 2011, held by the Tobacco Growers’
Association of Brazil (Afubra), in Rio Pardo (RS), 1st through 3rd March, 2011.
Rice Day was born out of a joint decision by the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga), the Brazilian Agricultural Research
Corporation (Embrapa) and the Agroindustrial Cooperative of Rio Pardo (Coparroz). At the last edition, 400 farmers took part
in the activities. A team of specialists was on hand for any technical clarifications on the crop, which involved matters related
to management, environmental sustainability and different cultivars.
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