The Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco) released the results of theProgram Maize, Beans and Pastures after tobacco harvestin the producing regions of the South of the Country. The survey counted the numbers of the production of grains in the areas producing tobacco and the estimates of income for the producers. Considering the tobacco producing regions of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná, 110,948 hectares of maize and 17,377 hectares of beans were planted, with an expected yield of R $ 414.2 million for maize and R $ 68.3 million for the beans.
After the harvest, the tobacco grower also grows other grains, especially soybeans that will yield around R $ 67.5 million in the 18,364 hectares planted. There is also significant cultivation of pasture for animal feeding. The survey pointed out that in the three southern states, 40,391 hectares were used for pasture.
“The tobacco industry has always supported diversification as long as it offers real income to producers. Recent research has shown that 79% of farmers do some sort of crop rotation to reduce pest, disease and weed proliferation and that about 50% guarantee income from products other than tobacco, significantly increasing their income, “he says, in a statement, the president of Sindi Tabaco, Iro Schünke.