Sowing of rice advances slowly in Rio Grande do Sul

According to the Conjunctural Report released by Emater/RS last Thursday (9), rice sowing reached 12% of the projected area in the state. The irregularity of rains and the high soil moisture have made it difficult to prepare the areas and advance the work. "In periods of stable weather, there is a gradual resumption of activities, especially in areas with better drainage and structuring," the bulletin reported. Emater highlighted that the current crop situation reflects the lower use of inputs, a direct result of the drop in commercialization prices. "The reduction in prices has impacted the investment capacity and economic sustainability of the sector," the institution pointed out. According to the Rio Grandense Rice Institute (IRGA), the 2024/2025 irrigated rice crop ended with an average productivity of 9,044 kg per hectare in the 970,216 hectares harvested, resulting in 8,762,370 tons. For the 2025/2026 crop, the estimate is a 5.17% reduction in the planted area, totaling ...