T
he flooded rice production sys-
tem represents 90.25% of the
Brazilian rice crop, equivalent
to 10.8 million tons, cultivat-
ed on 1.448 million hectares, of
the estimated total of 11.966 million tons to
be harvested in the 2016/17 crop year. The
southern states (Paraná, SantaCatarina and
Rio Grande do Sul) will harvest 81.25%, or
9.722 million tons of rice in the husk. In the
three states, only 10 thousand tons are pro-
duced in the dry land system, in Paraná.
Rio Grande do Sul accounts for 71% of
the entire Brazilian crop: 8.48 million tons,
cultivated in 1.1 million hectares. The vol-
ume represents almost 75% of our national
consumption. Generally speaking, it would
be possible to say that out of every four rice
kernels consumed in the Country, three
come from Rio Grande do Sul. If it does not
occur, it is only because of the import and
export flow, bringing in kernels from Para-
guay, and shipping the rice produced in the
State to upwards of 60 global destinations.
Then, a little more distant, Santa Catari-
na ranks as second biggest rice producer in
Brazil, with a total of 150 thousand hectares
devoted to the crop, reaching a total of 1.1
million tons. Tocantins, thirdbiggest nation-
al producer, has also adhered to the flood-
ed rice system, with a total of 105 thousand
hectares and more than 680 thousand tons
of rice in the husk. In all, 17 states have ad-
hered totally or partially to the flooded rice
production system.
“Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina,
together, are responsible for the Country’s
food security, producing upwards of 80%
of the cheapest and most essential prod-
uct of the staple basket”, summarizes Hen-
riqueOsórioDornelles, president of theFed-
eration of Rice Growers’ Associations in Rio
Grande do Sul (Federarroz). According to
him, the production model of Rio Grande
do Sul is now followed by all regions where
flooded rice production predominates in
Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
“We are a reference in the continent, thanks
to120 years in the rice farmingbusiness, be-
sides research works, rice growers commit-
ted to the activity and to the production of
food, and a modern industry”, he notes. He
recalls that Brazil, outside Asia, is the lead-
ing producer and biggest consumer of rice
in theworld.
OPPORTUNITy
Carlos Magri Fer-
reira, socio-economist with Embrapa Rice
and Beans, in Santo Antônio de Goiás (GO),
maintains that the evolution in the South
was also a question of opportunity and of
the scenarios that surfaced with the ad-
vent of the cultivation system in the Cerra-
do regions, consisting of soybean and corn
in succession. “Up to the mid-1970s, Brazil-
ian consumers used to prefer long grain rice
IRRIGATEDRICEREPRESENTSMORE
THAN90%OFTHEBRAZILIANCROP,AND
THESOUTHISTHELEADINGNATIONAL
SUPPLIER,ACCOUNTINGFORABOUT81%
produced in dry lands. The preference for
long and thin rice was conquered through
the ability and discernment of the rice farm-
ers in the regions where long and thin rice is
produced, known as agulhinha rice”, he ex-
plains.
Accordingtohim,itwasalongway.What
stands out is the constant pursuit of innova-
tions, at home and abroad, giving priori-
ty to the use of new cultivars to replace the
oldones (whichwereproductive, but lacked
kernel quality), improvements to agricultur-
al practices and efficient technology trans-
ference processes, following on the heels of
Project 10, of the Rio Grande do Sul Rice In-
stitute (Irga).
Another consequence from this strate-
gy was an increase in the productivity rates
of flooded rice, relevant component in the
success conquered in terms of production.
“However, it was not the main element,
once in the same period the productivity
rates of dry land rice also soared in relative
terms, exceeding flooded rice”, comments
Ferreira.
The Embrapa researcher understands
that the conquest of the market by irrigat-
ed rice suggests other factors, like a change
in the legislation regarding kernel quality,
government incentive consisting in financ-
ing and acquiring the crop and synchro-
nized engagement of the links of the supply
chain. In Ferrerira’s view, the expectation is
for the concentration tocontinue soaring, as
flooded rice seeks to expand its productivi-
ty rates through management and rotation
technologies and plant genetics, whilst the
highlandanddrylandriceiscompetingwith
soybean, corn and livestock operations.
Brazilian
waters
Rio Grande do Sul is responsible for almost 71% of Brazil’
s rice farming business
Inor Ag. Assmann
20
