The rice harvest in Rio Grande do Sul reached 73.3% of the area expected for the 2017/18 harvest. According to the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga), so far, the average productivity in the State is 7.998 kilos per hectare.
Among the main producing regions, The West Frontier continues to be the most advanced, with 267,120 ha (84.3%) of harvested area, with a productivity of 8,268 kg / ha, followed by the Regional Coastal Forests, with 95,987 ha (72.8%) of harvested area, productivity of 7,116 kg / ha; South zone, 124,444 ha (70.9%).
With the second largest area harvested so far, the Coastal Plain comprises the Nates of Capivari do Sul, Mostardas, Palmares do Sul, Santo Antônio da Patrulha, Torres and Viamão. According to the regional coordinator of the Coastal Plain, agricultural engineer Vagner Martini dos Santos, the improvement in climatic conditions in the month of April contributes to the significant advance in the harvest. Since in March, due to the great volume of rainfall, the harvest of the grain was harmed.