August 8, 2008

Brazil's 2007-08 grain harvest hits record, up 9.1 percent on-year

Brazil collected 143.7 million tonnes of grains during the 2007-2008 harvest, a record amount and 9.1 percent more than during the previous season, the government announced Thursday (Aug 7, 2008).

The figure was calculated based on studies conducted by government experts in July, when the harvest was ending.

The record production was based on a 2.2-percent increase in total land under cultivation to 47.25 million hectares. 

Soy and corn, both with record production and representing 83 percent of the total national grain harvest saw the greatest increases.

Brazil harvested about 60.1 million tonnes of soy and 58.5 million tonnes of corn.

The increase in the overall harvest was attributed to the growth in both foreign and domestic demand.

International demand and a hike in food prices gave incentives to farmers to expand planting.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that the world food crisis must be seen as an opportunity for Brazil.

According to the report released on Thursday, the record harvest was confirmed after corn producers in the southern state of Parana reported that freezing weather in June caused fewer losses than originally feared.