Coffee cultivation in Brazil moves BRL2.7 billion in pesticides

Coffee cultivation in Brazil handled BRL2.7 billion in pesticide products in the 2022-23 harvest, according to the FarmTrak study by the Kynetec consultancy, which was exclusively seen by AgroPages.

In states where the robusta variety predominates, which occupies 441,000 hectares or 21% of the total planting area, coffee growers consumed BRL400 million in products, or 15% of the market.

Coffee is the fifth largest crop that buys the most protection products from the Brazilian pesticide industry.

The cultivated area of coffee in Brazil reached 2.1 million hectares, an increase of 1% over the last period, according to the Kynetec study.

Sales results for the 2022-23 season showed an increase of around 17% compared to the previous cycle, when BRL2.4 billion were sold.

Foliar fungicides led sales, jumping from BRL674 million to BRL759 million, or 28% of the market, an increase of 13%.

Herbicides came in second place and accounted for BRL727 million compared to the 2021-22 harvest (BRL494.36 million), equivalent to 27% of transactions, a growth of 32%.

The survey also showed that applications via drench (jet directed below the plant canopy in the root system) dropped from 28% (BRL673 million) to 24% (BRL652 million).

Insecticide sales reached BRL434 million or 16% of the total, compared to BRL 374 million, a rise of 16%.

According to Kynetec's market intelligence analyst, Lucas Furquim, the coffee pesticide market has grown, based on the rising adoption of products and number of treatments.

In the case of herbicides, the central targets were pre and post-emergence broadleaf weeds.

The pests, leaf miner and coffee borer, accounted for the majority of insecticides, while coffee rust and pointer blight demanded more foliar fungicides from producers.

In terms of cultivated grain area, FarmTrak showed that Minas Gerais was the leading state with 1.2 million hectares or 60% of the total at 2.1 million hectares, mainly due to the production of arabica coffee, the Kynetec specialist said.
In terms of value, coffee farming in Minas Gerais accounted for BRL1.6 billion in agrochemicals, or 62% of market turnover.

Espírito Santo remained in second position in terms of area and investments in technologies to control pests, diseases and weeds.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)