“Irrigation increases costs and, in order to be profitable, farmers must obtain high yields…”
Deny Sanábio is the state technical coordinator for fruit growing at the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company of the State of Minas Gerais – EMATER-MG.
Sanábio has a degree in agricultural engineering and a M.Sc. in plant science from the Federal University of Lavras.
Deny Sanábio, state technical coordinator for fruit growing at EMATER-MG
AgriBrasilis – What are the obstacles to produce fruit in the semi-arid region of the State of Minas Gerais?
Deny Sanábio – The biggest obstacle is the dependence on irrigation, whether through irrigated perimeters (Jaíba, Gorutuba and Pirapora). Irrigation increases costs and, in order to be profitable, farmers must obtain high yields. In addition, the fruits produced in the region are of a high standard.
Also there are difficulties for commercialization, especially for family farmers, who sometimes have to sell their production together with other farmers or even give it to farmers with a better commercialization structure. The lack of unity also makes it difficult, as there are few farmers linked to associations or cooperatives. In addition, the distance from large consumer centers increases costs.
“It is necessary to establish partnerships with the production, research and extension, marketing and agro-industry sectors, involving public and private sectors”
AgriBrasilis – What is planted in the region, and for which markets?
Deny Sanábio – The state is very large and fruit farming is quite diversified, as can be seen in this document: “Perfil da Fruticultura 2022“.
The State of Minas Gerais has approximately 140 thousand ha of planted area in production and another 13 thousand ha in development, ranking 4th in national production.
It is estimated that losses in the domestic market could reach 40%. These losses are due to inadequate cultivation practices, storage and transportation, in addition to the lack of information among the members of the production chain.
The state has conditions to produce tropical, subtropical and temperate fruits. It also has special situations that allow production all year round. Despite the edaphoclimatic and regional conditions favorable to fruit growing, the state of Minas Gerais imports several fruits that could be produced here.
Fruit farming demands a large quantity of manpower, generating more than 500 thousand jobs in the state of Minas Gerais and making small rural properties viable. To this end, it is necessary to establish partnerships with the production, research and extension, marketing and agro-industry sectors, involving public and private sectors, in the search for obtaining good quality fruits, regular supply, free of pesticide residues and at competitive prices.
It is necessary to establish partnerships, incentives and public policies to allow the consolidation of fruit farming in the municipalities of the State of Minas Gerais.
AgriBrasilis – What is the Fruticaminas Circuit?
Deny Sanábio – EMATER-MG organizes the Fruticaminas Circuit, supported by the State Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply and also by partners linked to fruit farming, Federal University of Lavras, Agricultural Research Company of Minas Gerais (Epamig), Minas Gerais Institute of Agriculture (IMA) and the private sector. The Circuit began in 2010 when it was proposed the creation of regionalized technical events.
The Circuit consists in technical lectures and/or workshops, demofield days, meetings, partnerships, and specific actions for fruit farming in various regions of the State of Minas Gerais, providing technical information to farmers, discussing opportunities in the fruit farming segment.
The objective is to dissemination of technologies aimed at improving the quantity and quality of produced fruit, increasing farmer income, and maintaining and generating jobs. In these 14 years, 127 events were held with the participation of 13,738 farmers and groups from more than 511 municipalities in the state.
AgriBrasilis – What other activities are promoted by Emater?
Deny Sanábio – Courses, training, videoconferences, technical materials, technical visits, Demonstration and Observation Units, representation in Technical Chambers, support in marketing, issuance of the BIP (Production Information Bulletin for CEASAMINAS), etc.
AgriBrasilis – What partnerships does the Company foster to promote fruit farming?
Deny Sanábio – There are partnerships with the Minas Gerais Institute of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Company of Minas Gerais – Epamig, Ceasa, Universities, Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Institutes, in addition to agreements with 811 of the 853 municipalities in the state, etc.
AgriBrasilis – How does fruit farming contribute to regional development?
Deny Sanábio – It is a highly profitable activity per hectare (compared to other agricultural activities) when the farmer uses appropriate technologies and achieves satisfactory yields.
Fruit farming has its ups and downs in regard to prices, but it is noticeable that on average the prices are satisfactory. It is an activity that generates jobs and income. For each planted hectare, fruit farming generates 2 direct jobs and 4 indirect jobs. Research by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) shows that farmers who have technical assistance generally have yield 4 times higher compared to those without assistance.
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