Brazil: Despite the drought, tomato production grows 18% in São Paulo

The production of table and canned tomatoes grew by 18.4% in the 2023/2024 winter harvest, according to estimates by the Institute of Agricultural Economics (IEA-Apta), part of the São Paulo State Department of Agriculture and Supply (SAA). Despite adverse weather conditions, such as the severe drought faced by farmers in São Paulo, tomato productivity is expected to increase by 17.6%, leading to table tomato production of over 392,000 tons, with an average yield of 92,394 kg/ha. Tomatoes, like peanuts, rice, and soybeans, are crops that are severely affected by the drought. Even so, with the help of the São Paulo government, the sector should end the harvest with positive results. Aware of the problem of lack of rain, the State of São Paulo has already released almost R$1 billion in emergency funds to the agricultural sector due to the drought. “We want to help our producers invest in irrigation with low interest rates. Why do we have so many problems if there is water ...