Rural producer creates implement projects to facilitate agricultural work

Driven by the desire to reduce the hardship of agricultural work, Lucas da Natividade Ribeiro, 33 years old, began creating implement projects ten years ago. Over that time, he developed a sprayer to be attached to a microtractor, a planter and a sweet potato harvester, and carrot and sweet potato washing machines. Everything designed to serve the production itself and neighboring properties.

Lucas inherited his love for rural production from his father and, at the age of 17, he acquired a property located in Núcleo Rural Jardim, in Paranoá, with an area of ​​6.5 hectares. The young man knew what awaited him – since he was a child, he had followed his father’s daily work in the fields. But as he didn’t have the same affection for manual activities, he found a way to make his work easier. “I always wanted to take off this heavy load, I’m a softer guy; So I saw a need for change to continue living from agriculture”, said the producer.

Working in the field requires daily care with the management of agricultural production, good property management and organization. This was the recipe found by Lucas to have a peaceful and comfortable life with his wife and two children. “The producer who does not plan his routine and seeks to improve productivity will not move forward. My success lies in the organization, in the planning to meet the property’s needs and produce with higher quality and less cost and difficulty”, he argued.

Carrot and sweet potato washing machines speed up work and generate labor savings

Technical assistance

Of the total area of ​​the property, six hectares are dedicated to planting sweet potatoes, carrots and corn, among other crops. The technical assistance and rural extension work provided by the office of the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company of the Federal District (Emater-DF) in Jardim, combined with the mechanization of the agricultural process, resulted in a 30% increase in production and a 20% reduction in labor costs.

“We recommend Lucas’ projects because they have a lower cost, allowing access to other producers, and because they lead to increased productivity and efficiency in activities”

Aureliano Dantas, extensionist at Emater-DF

According to Emater-DF extensionist Aureliano Dantas, the agricultural machines created by Lucas facilitate day-to-day operations on his property, generating efficiency in the application of chemical products and saving the quantity applied, since the sprayer, as well adjusted, it applies evenly. “Another difference in performance is the organization in the way we manage the property and the acceptance of our guidelines, which apply to the entire production process, from crop management, documentation and declarations to the production of rural credit projects” , informed the extension agent.

The professional also noted that the mechanization of rural properties is a reality for few due to the high cost and difficulty of rural credit for investment. “Agricultural implements and other equipment, necessary to reduce the hardship of rural work, do not easily reach family farmers; Therefore, we recommend Lucas’ projects because they have a lower cost, allowing access to other producers, and because they lead to increased productivity and efficiency in activities”, concluded Aureliano.

Lucas Ribeiro teaches: “The producer who does not plan his routine and seeks to improve productivity will not move forward”

Agricultural mechanization

Emater-DF’s Agricultural Manager, Antonio Dantas, stated that agricultural mechanization has been worked on by the company for a long time; However, in recent years, the topic has received more actions due to changes in the rural environment, mainly in the profile and composition of rural families, aiming to keep them rural in the countryside.

Development of Production Chains with several methodologies planned for this year. In this project, I highlight the Special Agricultural Mechanization and Automation Days, which should take place in July in Planaltina and Brazlândia. At these events, and during the field activities of our extension agents, farmers receive guidance on the possibilities of mechanization or automation of their activities and the rural credit lines available for financing”, stated the manager.

The Emater-DF Rural Credit Program advises the company’s extensionists and rural producers in the development of projects and criteria for access to rural credit lines available for the Federal District. To access the credit lines, the small family farmer must meet the criteria of the National Family Agriculture Program (Pronaf). To do this, you must be registered in the National Family Farming Registry (CAF), which is the family farmer’s gateway to public policies to encourage production and income generation.

With information from Agência Brasília