29 January - Tuesday
Rain amounts in LEM are well below
normal for January. So far it has only rained about 15mm when the norm for
January is 210. The corn crop could lose up to 25%
27 November - Tuesday
Railroad Project From
Bahia To The Peru
The first stage of the project, cost estimated to be R$2.8 billion (US$1.5
billion) will expand rail service from Ilhéus on the coast of Bahia south of
Salvador to Luís Eduardo
Magalhães in Western Bahia. The final project plans to reach
Puerto Bayovar, Peru. The first phase of 1,000 km will allow the transport
of 23 million mt of iron ore from the municipality of Caetité. Work is
expect to begin in 2008.
16 July - Monday
Cotton
Farmers are now
harvesting cotton with yields between 300 (4,500 kg, 9,900 lbs) and 350 arroba (
4,791 kg, 11,500
lbs)/hectare, which is excellent (in some areas yields are are around 400
arroba/ha). The cotton produced is qualified as the best in the world, because
of the fiber's size (3 centimeters) and micronair
** arroba = 15 kg = 33 lbs ha = 2.47 acres
1 March - Thursday
Sugarcane Looks Promising In Western Bahia
Western Bahia now wants to plant sugarcane. After soybeans, cotton, coffee
and maize, the hour of sugarcane is arriving.
Recent research carried out by the Bahia Foundation in cooperation with the
Institute Agronômico de Campinas (IAC) showed significant productivity of
irrigated sugarcane in the region.
In the city of
Luis Eduardo
Magalhães, 1,000 kilometers from Salvador, test in an experimental field verified production
levels of 160
tons per hectare one year after planting . The result is double the average production
of São Paulo, which varies between 60 and 80 tons per hectare. “The experience confirms the
viability of producing sugarcane in Western Bahia”, affirms the vice-president of the
Association of Agricultural Irrigation of the Bahia (Aiba), Sergio Pitt. To diversify the productive matrix is the objective of
Western Bahia producers who have already observed the development of sugarcane in
the neighboring State of Goiás. “There
sugarcane has advanced
sufficiently in areas whose land and climate are similar, thus we decide to
initiate the research”, informs Pitt, who notes the advantage of the topography of
in Western Bahia which is flatter.
The initiated research of one year is being carried
over using 15 varieties of sugarcane
and 75 clones in irrigated areas. The studies evaluate the adaptation, the
productivity and monitor the incidence of disease. Although the
experiments have been initiated in 100% irrigated areas, the vice-president of
the Aiba says that the test are all already being done on dry land farms and also
with complementary irrigation. Pitt guarantees that irrigated
sugarcane, although more expensive, is sufficiently competitive. “With 120
to 130
tons per hectare, it is already are an excellent business”, say Pitt. The development of
sugarcane will transformation Western Bahia into one of the main regions for
ethanol in the country, according to Pitt. However, he goes on to say that
their a need to establish a standard tax policy throughout the State as well as
a need for investment in the
logistical infrastructure. Hauling Ethanol by truck to Salvador is
not viable.
The expansion
will be fast. In a period of two to three years, it will be possible
to have from 20,000 to 30,000 hectares of sugarcane in the region.
Source:
Gazeta Mercantil - Jose
Pacheco Maia - Leading Brazilian business newspaper |
