Drought already causes damage of R$ 4.1 billion in the State

The economic loss with the drought in the territory of Rio Grande do Sul already exceeds R$ 4.1 billion. The estimate is from the Federation of Associations of Municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul (Famurs), based on a survey carried out last week with 116 city halls from different regions.

The biggest damages are with the areas of soy, corn, rice and beef and dairy cattle. In agriculture alone, the calculation is that R$ 3.9 billion will cease to circulate due to the drop in production and productivity of crops, mainly corn and soybeans. In livestock there are over R$ 823.8 million, with a reduction in milk production, impairment of pregnancy and termination of animals for slaughter in slaughterhouses, for example. The entity also calculates expenses of R$ 10.9 million with water transport to supply the population and the animal farms.

The number is still well below the R$ 29.5 billion in the Gross Value of Production (GVP) of soybeans in the 2021-2022 drought, calculated by the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FecoAgro/RS). The entity also estimated losses of R$ 6.6 billion in corn. According to the National Confederation of Municipalities, it was R$ 42 billion between January 2020 and March 2022.

Faced with the reoccurring situation, the president of Famurs, Paulinho Salerno, again hit a key that has been repeated in many lines for decades when the subject is climate in Rio Grande do Sul.

“Famurs has been monitoring the progress of the drought and seeking to speed up with the State the implementation of the agreements of the Avançar Program for the construction of cisterns, drilling of wells and opening of microdams in the municipalities, which aim to reduce the cyclical effects that La Niña imposes on the our producers. We need to modernize public policies to mitigate the effects of drought periods, which are increasingly frequent and intense, through the creation of a platform to operationalize programs and lines of credit for water reservation and irrigation systems”, he defended.

According to the state Civil Defense, by 5 pm this Friday, 212 city halls had declared an emergency situation. Of these, 178 already had a decree in force, while 92 had been ratified by the State and 57 recognized by the Union.

In the area covered by the Association of Municipalities of Costa Doce (Acostadoce), the municipality of Chuvisca signed this Friday the decree of emergency situation. Based on Emater’s survey, agricultural losses reached R$ 14.8 million, with tobacco, beans and milk.

“Now we are going to seek approval of the decree from the state, seeking flexibility for farmers to honor their contracts and seek conditions to plant a new crop”, said mayor Joel Sudba.

In Dom Feliciano, whose decree was signed on January 20, estimated losses with tobacco, corn, soybeans and beans total R$ 77.1 million so far.

The mayor of Arambaré and president of Acostadoce, Jardel Magalhães Cardoso, says he is seeking data from the region with official bodies. Although few municipalities have decreed or declared an emergency situation, losses increase every day due to the lack of rain.

An example of this situation is the region covered by the Association of Municipalities of Alto Uruguai, composed of 32 city halls. With 230,000 hectares of soy cultivated, the drop in average productivity of 60 bags per hectare is estimated at 20%, says Emater regional manager Gilberto Tonello. With a bag of soybeans in the range of R$ 180, the loss reaches R$ 496.8 million. As for corn, which has 50,000 hectares sown for grains, average productivity should drop 40%, from 150 bags to 90 bags per hectare. Priced at BRL 90 a bag, the crop would leave a gap of BRL 270 million in the region.

“This summer’s drought is not as intense as the previous ones, but this situation happens year after year. A strong program by the state government is needed to tackle this problem once and for all”, says the Emater agricultural technician.

To minimize the effects of the water crisis in the region, the company has been carrying out a series of actions in the Avançar Program. 261 microdams and 61 cisterns are under construction in the 32 municipalities in the area covered by the regional office.

In Erechim, Altemir Pelicioli, 55 years old, planted 170 hectares of corn, with the expectation of harvesting 150 bags per hectare. But the drought brought a very different reality to the crop.

“The grain is gone. In some areas I will harvest 30 bags. In others, 20 bags. In others, 10 bags e. And there are areas where I won’t harvest anything. Zero. It’s all dry. It’s been like this for the last three years,” he says, frustration and sadness in his voice.

With an estimated income of more than R$ 2 million, which he will no longer earn due to the crop failure, the farmer has already thought about dropping everything and moving to Pará, where he had already found the desired place and rainfall. But the desire collided with the parents’ desire to remain in Rio Grande do Sul.

“So I’m expanding the herd of Holstein cows and we’re going to try to live off dairy production. If I produce oats, barley and wheat in the winter, even without corn I will be able to feed the animals. It won’t be the same yield, but it’s a path”, says Pelicioli.

With a squad of 240 wombs, 110 of which are in milking, he has already noticed a drop in production. The 28 liters per cow a day of yesteryear, now gave way to a production of 20 liters per animal.

“Even the silage we are making will be of low quality. But there’s nothing to do. It is to keep working and waiting for the situation to change with the main focus on milk”, concludes the producer.