“Planning is critical if costs are to
be reduced and for making profits.”
The statement by farmer Rogério José
Pesarico, in the municipality of Dona
Francisca (RS), expresses quite a good
definition of how businesses are con-
ducted in his farm. The control over
fixed and variable costs is carried out by
the farmer himself, everything in digital
form. “The cost is under my control, and
this makes all the difference”, he argues.
With exclusive dedication to rice, culti-
vated in traditional manner, Pesarico is in-
volved in the crop from beginning to end,
and he hires day laborers only at times
when they are really needed. Further-
more, he also producers rice seed for the
Agricultural Cooperative of Nova Palma
(Camnpal). His endeavor has earned him
the recognition from the rice supply chain
and is the pillar of the structure of his fam-
ily life. Married tomonitor Nádia, he is the
father of Ana Paula, 26 year old biodoctor,
and students Júlia,17, andCaio Cezar, 13.
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On the tip of a pencil
Pesarico is set to exceed the average of 9,350 kilograms per hectare in 2016
weather conditions, he reached the highest
productivity rate in the municipality within
the so-called Project 10, under the supervi-
sion of the Irga. In the 2011/12 growing sea-
son,heevenharvested11,100kilogramsper
hectare within the same project. Currently,
he is planning to repeat and even exceed
this productivity level. “The secret lies in
hard work and investments in technology,
always keeping pace with what the market
offers”, he says. In Pesarico’s view, keeping
abreast of novelties is indispensable. “There
is need to invest in good products and total
dedication is required”, he suggests.
Atthemoment,thefarmerpossessesthree
tractors, a harvester and other implements
neededforconductingthebusiness,likeplant-
ers, spraying cans and granaries, among oth-
ers.“Fortunately,Iamwellequipped.Nowmy
structuremakes it possible forme toplant an-
other 20 hectares”, he says. Besides his state-
of-the-art machinery, he has a warehouse on
thefarm–somethingcommonwithotherrice
farmers in the municipality. These warehous-
es reduce freight and depot costs and make
it possible to take advantage of the ideal mo-
mentformoving the cereal to themarket.
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