On-farm grain storage in Brazil continues to be problematic

A persistent problem for Brazilian farmers continues to be a lack of on-farm grain storage and grain storage construction has not kept pace with the ever-expanding grain production in Brazil. According to a study conducted by the Agriculture and Livestock Confederation of Brazil (CNA), approximately 15% of farms in Brazil have on-farm storage. The study interviewed 1,065 rural producers concerning their storage situation and their attitude toward the construction of new storage facilities. Approximately 73% of the farmers interviewed said they looked at new storage facilities, but a lack of credit and high interest rates were prohibitive. Other obstacles included adequate qualified labor, investments in energy distribution infrastructure, and inadequate rural roads. A lack of on-farm storage puts farmers at a disadvantage. On-farm storage facilities would allow farmers to sell their crops later when prices may have improved instead of at harvest time when prices are usually ...