Brazil: Emater-MG and Amipa join forces on biological pest control

Emater-MG and the Minas Gerais Cotton Producers Association (Amipa) entered into a partnership on July 4 in Patos de Minas (Alto Paranaíba) to promote sustainable agricultural practices and research on the use of biological pest control in Minas Gerais crops. 

The ceremony occurred during Amipa's Field Day, at the association's Experimental Farm and is considered one of the leading cotton-growing events in Minas Gerais.

CEO of Emater-MG Otávio Maia, President of Amipa Daniel Bruxel, and Vice President of the association, Inácio Carlos Urban, signed the agreement. The document provides for technical visits to cotton producers to collect data on sustainability gains on properties using the biological control technique.

″Amipa has done excellent work in the sustainability of cotton crops and has a biofactory (located in Uberlândia), which produces insects that are natural enemies of the main pests of cotton and other crops. The association sought the assistance of Emater-MG to validate the benefits of this technology on cotton properties in Minas Gerais,″ explained the Technical Director of Emater-MG, Gelson Soares.

Biological Control

Emater-MG and Amipa will develop a joint methodology to verify whether properties that use biological control are more sustainable and economical. ″Today, we have reached 80,000 hectares of area treated with natural enemies, which will continue to expand. And we have noticed that producers have significantly reduced the use of agricultural pesticides, especially insecticides. In addition, plastics are no longer used in crops, there is a reduction in diesel consumption since a tractor is no longer needed, and there are other secondary benefits. We have some figures from this work that are not accredited and so we chose Emater to verify and assess these data,″ stated Amipa’s Executive Director, Lício Sairre.

According to the Amipa director, Emater-MG is a serious institution with credibility and presence in several municipalities. ″We realized that Emater-MG has the expertise to do this work since it performs the diagnosis and assessment for farm certification. So Emater-MG emerged as a natural partner and we hope to have great success with this project.″

Cotton Harvest

The Minas Gerais Cotton Producers Association (Amipa) is a non-profit civil entity dedicated over two decades to promoting and strengthening sustainable cotton farming in Minas Gerais and supporting its associated producers in developing their cotton enterprises. According to the association, cotton production in 2024 will reach 3.5 million tons, an increase of 12.2% compared to the previous harvest.

In May, Brazil recorded a significant increase in its cotton exports, with a volume of 229.4 thousand tons, generating revenue of US$488 million. These figures represent a growth of 280% compared to the same period the previous year. The average price per ton of cotton sold increased by 6.1% compared to 2023. In Minas Gerais, the planted area was 32,106 hectares (24.21% higher than the planted area compared to the previous harvest), and the total projected cotton fiber production is 65,000 tons.

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