For rural producers who want to diversify their products and invest in fruit production, banana farming presents a promising market. Check out the fruit scene in Brazil!
.jpg) |
| image credit: https://www.pexels.com/ |
Candy, chips, liquor and more! Bananas have a variety of products made from fruit, which pleases different tastes and consumers. Banana farming is a promising market, being the second most produced fruit in Brazil, second only to oranges, and the fourth largest banana producer in the world.
However, it is not just domestic consumption that draws attention, in rural areas, banana farming is also attractive because it is an option with a quick return, which draws the attention of small and large producers, in addition to the possibility of being cultivated throughout the entire country. country, depending on the type of banana.
In addition, care with banana production still needs to be constant to deliver a quality product, paying attention to the balance and nutritional care of the soil, as well as the management of diseases in banana cultivation.
But, do you know how this market is doing? In this article, we are going to bring an overview of banana farming in Brazil, highlighting the market, care, the main challenges of banana production and the threat of disease that harm crops.
What is the scenario of banana farming in Brazil?
As the fourth largest banana producer in the world, Brazil annually harvests 7 million tons of fruit for the domestic market, exporting only 1% of this amount, a small amount compared to national consumption. Currently, the area destined for the cultivation of bananas is 500,000 hectares, spread across the South, Southeast and Northeast of the country.
Regarding the types of bananas planted, the cultivation of silver banana is predominant, with 60% of the production, followed by dwarf banana, 30%, and 15% for the plantation of apple banana, plantain and other varieties. As a result, the banana market moves around R$13 billion per year, not counting the role in agriculture, employing more than 500,000 people and the highlight for production coming mainly from family farming.
With regard to fruit-producing states, São Paulo leads the ranking of the largest producers, followed by Bahia, Minas Gerais and Santa Catarina, which together account for 50% of the national fruit production.
In addition to the rapid consumption, variability of recipes from the fruit and the social role, the banana also stands out for its benefits for banana farmers. As we discussed earlier, bananas can be produced all year round, which makes production easier.
Demand in the domestic market is also on the rise, especially when we compare the quantity produced with exports. This demonstrates high consumer acceptance, mainly because it is marketed in nature or industrialized.
What are the precautions for banana growing?
As with any plantation, the rural producer needs to monitor the development stages of the crop to ensure that its needs are met in terms of nutritional balance. In the case of banana production, it is no different.
Under ideal conditions, the fruit manages to develop optimally, which also represents an increase in productive capacity. To achieve good performance, it is important to pay attention to the soil, climate, pests and diseases and also to the nutrient absorption curve, which is similar between fruit varieties. Below are some precautions you need to take:
Nutrients
In banana farming, the nutrient absorption curve remains slow in the first 165 days after planting and grows as production progresses until harvest. Thus, the increment of nutrients must be replaced so that the offer is maintained after this first cycle.
In addition, there are some nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and potassium, which cannot be lacking in the crop, as they are elements that contribute to the good development of the crop, depending a lot on the amount already existing in the soil and on the production that is expected to achieve.
soil correction
Very acidic or unbalanced soils can damage the crop, so many rural producers use soil correction methods, one of which is liming. In this technique, amounts of calcium and magnesium are applied to raise the pH of the soil and, consequently, correct its acidity.
In banana farming, it is recommended to apply about 300g in the planting hole to correct the acidic soil, as well as the addition of sulfur combined with the planting fertilization.
Fertilizing
Another important factor is adduction because, in many banana cultures, there is a deficiency of micronutrients such as boron and zinc. In this case, it is necessary to apply these elements. In addition, the addition must be carried out in a circle shape in new plants and in more advanced crops in a half-moon shape.
disease management
One of the biggest problems in crops is when diseases and pests start to appear, which end up affecting the productive potential of the plantation and can represent great losses. In banana farming, we have an insurgent disease that has affected more than 18 countries on 4 continents, Tropical Race 4 (RT4).
The disease is caused by a fungus that causes the death of the plant, attacking the stem and causing irreparable losses, like the one that occurred in China and compromised 70% of the plantations in two locations in the western country. There are still no records of the disease in Brazil, but the country is not free of this threat, mainly because RT4 is already present in Peru and Colombia.
What we currently have is Race 1, which attacks the silver banana plantations, but is controlled. The main difference between the two races is that RT4 attacks all types of bananas and Race 1, attacks the silver banana.
What are the main challenges in banana farming?
Banana farming also faces some challenges that need to be overcome, including sales, especially when dealing with exports, which are still low in the country, even with the advantageous market.
In this scenario, cooperatives play an important role, mainly in the commercialization of bananas, helping the products to reach the final consumer.
Another bottleneck is in logistics, which in many situations is done improperly, causing the loss of 40% of what is produced in the country. However, this problem is not just for the banana market, but for other crops, causing waste and increasing food insecurity.
Free Silai Machine Yojana 2023
As we have seen, banana farming has an important social and economic role for the country, in addition to representing a promising market for rural producers who want to expand their production. However, it is necessary to be very careful with the banana crop and to build strategies to overcome the challenges.
