Andef urges caution for Brazil agrochemical industry 2014

After over a year of growth, Brazilian agribusiness sees 2014 as year that urges caution, said Eduardo Daher, Andef’s CEO (National Association of Plant Protection). He pointed out that 2014 will be powered by big challenges and expectations, and it shows that even with some negative scenarios in agriculture, such as cotton, there still is a lot of confidence in other commodities such as soybeans, that will continue to do well. 'Agribusiness should again keep the trade balance with positive outcome in the country', he said.

Daher emphasized the pests that threatened crops in 2013 remain concerning the productive sector in 2014. 'We leave 2013 and enter 2014 accelerated by exotic and quarantine pests and therefore the word caution resumes next year ', emphasized the executive.

According to him, it is critical that this issue is treated with the necessary seriousness and what solutions are offered to farmers to ensure that their productivity in the next harvest. 'The phytosanitary threats continue haunting our production and only with agility of the Government, Science and Education, can we fight them'.

Daher mentioned formatting and coalition a more efficient and more responsive regulatory framework as the major challenge this year. 'The bureaucracy of regulatory agencies in Brazil to adopt new technology has been much slower than the pests multiply in crops' he highlighted.

Even with the great difficulties that surround the development of Brazilian rural production, the executive emphasized the excellent results that the sector has shown year after year. He recalled that, despite the decrease of 3.5% in the third quarter GDP, agribusiness should close 2013 with a 6.5% increase, demonstrating that the sector is still a great flagship of Brazil's economy.