Silvio Ávila
31
Renewed
vitality
After a difficult period, due to
climate conditions, regional coffee
plantations are on the rise again, with
perspectives for bigger volumes
The weather was too warm and ended up “cooling
down” the recent results of the coffee crop in Western Ba-
hia, despite the use of irrigation, which characterizes the
regional production. The 2016/17 growing season expe-
rienced a reduction in planted area and physical perfor-
mance, but for the new season farmers are betting on the
recovery of both aspects, especially in productivity, which
could result into significant volumes,
according to the Association of Coffee
Farmers in Western Bahia (Abacafé).
Should the perspectives of the entity
confirm, the production in the 2017/18
growing season could reach more than
31 thousand tons, with the incorpora-
tion of new areas and the estimated ex-
pressive rise in productivity, should nor-
mal climate conditions persist. The sector faced difficulties
stemming from adverse weather conditions, but the situa-
tion has got back to normal, a fact that allows us to specu-
late the chances for a nice surprise later on, with some ad-
vances in the current period, but more expressive in the
2018/19 growing season, says Marcos Antonio de Alvaren-
ga, treasurer at the association.
Another factor likely to favor the crop in the region is the
Geographical Indication (GI) of the Coffee produced in the
Western Region of Bahia. At the end of 2017, the sector was
waiting a confirmation of this distinction from the Nation-
al institute for industrial property (INPI), where it is going
through the final stages that started some years ago. Once
confirmed, it should come as renewed vitality for the farm-
Region is awaiting
Geographical
Indication
forthe crop
ers, says Alvarenga, translating into a new promotional ma-
trix for regional coffee farming and its particularities.
In parallel, Abacafé emphasizes that, jointly with partner
organizations, the initiatives intended to improve the activi-
ty are advancing steadily, including capacitybuilding training
for the collaborators and in the constant pursuit of conquer-
ing all the technological challenges that happen to surface,
especially in the field of innovations and cost reductions,
without overlooking the markets. According to the officials,
everything aims to aggregate value to the highly qualifiedna-
tional crop and, therefore, achieve the supply chain’s neces-
sary strength, in order to sustain itself andmake strides.
café do oeste
da bahia
coffee from western bahia
Estimativas para a cultura na região
Fonte:
Abacafé.
Safras
2016/17 2017/18
Área em produção (ha)
9.580 11.306
Produtividade (sc/ha)
29
46,5
Produção (t)
16.669 31.544
