This year, the Government of the State of Santa Catarina should invest R$3.2 million to encourage the production of wheat, triticale and barley in the State, a value 60% higher than in 2023. These resources will be destined for the Winter Cereals Cultivation Incentive Program, developed since 2021 by the State Secretariat for Agriculture and Livestock (SAR). The objective is to leverage the production of these crops as a strategy to supply poultry and pork production chains, reducing the State’s dependence on imports of corn for animal feed.
Santa Catarina has a significant and constantly growing animal protein production chain. According to a study by Epagri/Cepa, to meet this production, the State needs around 8 million tons of corn annually to manufacture feed. In the 2022/2023 harvest, corn production in SC was approximately three million tons, according to available data at the Santa Catarina Agro Observatory. The deficit in the production and consumption relationship is 5 million tons, which need to be imported from other states and neighboring countries to supply the Santa Catarina production chain.
Program Benefits
The Secretary of State for Agriculture and Livestock, Valdir Colatto, states that this program is a stimulus for diversification and adding value in rural areas. “In addition to reducing costs and improving the competitiveness of livestock farming, the cultivation of winter cereals is an additional income alternative for rural families, as it takes advantage of areas that were not being used in winter and provides other benefits, such as crop rotation. Areas cultivated with winter cereals keep the soil protected and generate income for families,” he explains.
According to the director of Cooperatives and Rural Development, Léo Kroth, crops produced in winter are considered excellent alternatives to make up for the shortage of corn used for the production of animal feed. “According to research carried out by Embrapa Trigo (RS) and Embrapa Swine and Poultry (SC), these cereals are viable options to replace corn in the formulation of feed and concentrates for feeding pigs and poultry”, he emphasizes.
In the following video, learn more about the winter cereal planting incentive program in SC
Tags: Government invest R3 .2 million encourage cultivation winter cereals
