Fruit production in Brazil is doing well, thank you. According to Abrafrutas (Brazilian Association of Fruit and Fruit Derivative Producers and Exporters), production increased by 6% in volume and 26.7% in value compared to 2022, totaling 1.085 million tons produced and exported to demanding markets such as Arab countries.
The Northeast region stands out, including Bahia, which, during 11 months of 2023, exported 170 thousand tons, representing a 44% growth compared to 2022. One of the secrets of this good productivity is that, in the region where grapes, mangoes, melons, and various other fruits are grown, irrigation practices reach 100% of the properties, predominantly carried out through drip irrigation systems.
According to the agronomist of a major company in the industry, Maxwell Soares da Silva, this technology had a direct impact on the record production and export of fruits, providing the necessary supply of water, fertilizers, and biological products that do not harm the environment. And the fact that they were applied directly to the plant’s root system, through drip irrigation, further increased efficiency.
Maxwell explains that with the implementation of the irrigation system, producers have greater freedom and management options:
• They can irrigate at different times of the day or night
• Apply fertilizers separately by plots or across the entire area
• Perform the application of biologicals that assist in plant rooting and pest and disease control.
Localized irrigation also allows for proper management for each crop and soil type, especially in a semi-arid region. According to meteorologist Humberto Barbosa, founding scientist of the Laboratory for Analysis and Processing of Satellite Images (Lapis) at the Federal University of Alagoas (Ufal), arid regions with desert climates were identified in the Northeast in 2023, further highlighting the need for conscious water use in the region.
This management is carried out with manual and digital tensiometers, which provide real-time information about soil moisture and the need for irrigation. One can perceive the level of accuracy that the producer can achieve with tools like these, which impact not only water consumption but also the use of fertilizers and energy.
Source: https://abrafrutas.org/2024/03/brasil-produziu-mais-de-um-milhao-de-toneladas-de-frutas-em-2023-entenda/