A
recent study attests that more
than 80% of the tobacco farm-
ers in South Brazil, region that
is responsible for 97.5% of the
national crop, belong to eco-
nomic classes A and B, way above Bra-
zil’s reality. Median monthly household
per capita income is R$ 1,926.73, while the
general average in the Country remains at
R$ 1,113.00, as ascertained by the Center
for Studies and Research on Administra-
tion (Cepa) of the Federal University of Rio
Grande do Sul (Ufrgs), in 2016. That year,
144 thousand tobacco growing families of
the region earned R$ 5.23 billion, a bigger
volume compared to the previous year, a
fact that encouraged the farmers to expand
their planted areas by 10% for the 2016/17.
“It came as a nice surprise to learn
about the high income earned by the to-
bacco farmers, compared to producers of
other crops, and their expressive person-
al property, starting from the availabili-
ty of electric energy, washing machines
(96%), clothes dryers (65%) and air con-
ditioners (21%)”, commented Luiz Anto-
nio Slongo, professor at Ufrgs and coordi-
nator of the study. What also grabbed his
attention was the high degree of satisfac-
tion shown by the farmers (90%) regard-
ing their agricultural activity and interest
(85%) in holding on to their crop.
The value of the 2015/16 crop went up
by almost 40% in comparison to the pre-
vious year, including the three types of to-
bacco grown in the South for the manufac-
ture of cigarettes (Virginia, in its majority,
87%; and air cured Burley, 12%; and Co-
mum), according to numbers furnished by
the Tobacco Growers’ Association of Brazil
(Afubra). Climate-related problems during
the season ill affected the productivity rates
(which, in general, is high at every growing
season, along with quality), a fact that had
an influence on income andon the decision
for the next season, says Benício Albano
Werner, president of the association.
About 85% of the crop, on average, is
shipped abroad (major buyers are Belgium,
ChinaandtheUnitedStates)andBrazil,sec-
ond-biggest global producer, leads exports,
accounting for about 30% of all tobacco
negotiated in the world. In 2015, with big-
ger volumes available, the volume shipped
abroad by the Country (99.4% from the
South) went up by 8.6%, but in 2016, with a
smaller crop, the expectation is for a reduc-
tion in exports. “With competitive prices,
Brazil is supposed to continue leading the
exports of the sector, in view of the quali-
ty and integrity of the tobacco, besides the
advances inproduction sustainability”, says
Cropbringsinaheftyincomeandsatisfaction,stimulatingthefarmersto
increasetheplantedareaforthe2016/17growingseason, inSouthBrazil
Happyand
satisfied
VALORESDOTABACO
Tobaccovalues
NúmerosdaculturanoBrasil
Safra2015/16
Área
283.670hectares
Produção
538.683toneladas
Exportação(2015)
517miltoneladas
Receitaexportação(2015)
US$2,19bilhões
Rendaprodução(Sul)
R$5,2bilhões
Rendasetor(2015)
R$27,8bilhões
Tributos(2015)
R$13,2bilhões
Empregosdiretoseindiretos
2,1milhões
Fonte:Afubra/SindiTabaco.
tobacco
Inor Ag. Assmann
100
