With irrigation provided by the State Government, it is always time to plant corn in the Piauí Irrigated Perimeter, in Lagarto, center-south of Sergipe. However, when June arrives, the festivities of Santo Antônio, São João and São Pedro substantially increase the demand for green corn. These irrigating farmers are preparing with 33 hectares planted with the grain, with the expectation of harvesting 1,056,000 ears. The area is 50% larger than that harvested in June 2023 (22 hectares), and 136% larger compared to the same month in 2022 (14 hectares).
Farmer Gilvan Lima is an irrigator on the Piauí perimeter. He is dedicated to planting corn to harvest and sell it while it is still green in June and has around 0.3 hectares dedicated to agricultural crops. “Here, irrigation helps us a lot. I plant to break [a espiga], because I think it’s better than dry. Green corn, for me, gives more results”, she reinforced.
Green corn presents itself as a versatile production alternative not only during the June season. The producer sells the ears and can use the straw, still green, to make up animal feed; but if the producer is still unable to sell the ears, he can use the entire corn plant for mechanized harvesting in the production of silage, ‘roll’, or grain, also for animal feed.
“Many irrigators have dairy farms and use corn and irrigated grass on the perimeter to supplement the nutrition of these herds. There is a lot of milk being produced in the perimeter and supplying businesses and dairy products, at the same time that there are producers who take the material grown in irrigation, mainly corn and ‘straw’, to sell with cattle farms outside the perimeter”, informed the manager of the Lagarto irrigated perimeter, Gildo Almeida.
With 421 assisted production units, Piauí is one of six perimeters administered by the Sergipe Regional Development Company (Coderse), linked to the State Secretariat for Agriculture, Agrarian Development and Fisheries (Seagri). All perimeters work with the production of corn for the sale of cobs and the production of animal feed and have irrigation water and agricultural technical assistance, which benefit grain producers throughout the year.
Growth
In 2023, green corn production grew by 20% in these areas irrigated by the State Government. It is worth noting that that year, irrigating farmers served by Coderse across the state harvested 5,733 tons of cereal, a result higher than the 4,795 tons of the previous year. If production expectations maintain this trend, based on the irrigated cornfield reserved for harvesting next June in Lagarto, 2024 will be an even better year of grain production.
Seeds of the Future
In addition to irrigation and technical assistance, Coderse distributed 7.2 tons of corn seeds from the Sementes do Futuro program. Through the Sergipe Agricultural Development Company (Emdagro), also linked to Seagri, 206 tons of seed were distributed throughout the state. The State Government’s investment was R$3 million, making it possible to benefit 20,600 families from 50 municipalities in Sergipe.
“From Saint Joseph’s Day onwards, you can plant it, as it always gives great results. I sell to Ceasa people [Central de Abastecimento de Aracaju] and everywhere. The middleman buys it from me and takes it to the markets. This year will be good, for sure”, added irrigating farmer Gilvan Lima.
Source: Government of Sergipe
