Beans: Small ones are the majority, but large ones produce more

Bean production in Brazil is marked by the predominance of small farms, but the volume is concentrated in a few properties. According to research by Embrapa Rice and Beans, about 97% of the producing units maintain areas smaller than five hectares, located in 533.5 thousand rural properties in the six main producing states: Paraná, Minas Gerais, Goiás, São Paulo, Mato Grosso, and Bahia. Despite the significant number of small producers, only 3 thousand large farms — equivalent to 0.5% of the total — account for 75% of the national production, about 1.2 million tons of the grain. The study classified the farms into small (up to 5 hectares), medium (from 5 to less than 50 hectares), and large (from 50 hectares). The small farms can be located on properties of any size, and, in many cases, are intended for self-consumption, representing 59% of the production of colored beans and 38% of black beans. Since the 2017/18 crop, Brazil has become a net exporter of beans, surpassing imports. ...