Brazil

General Information

· Main climates: Tropical Wet, Tropical Wet and Dry at 600 m above sea, Subtropical Humid, Tropical Desert and Arid at 600 m above sea, Tropical Desert and Arid

· Total land area: 851 197 000 ha

· Internal renewable water resources: 5 190 km³

· Incoming water flow: 1 760 km³

· GNP per capita, 1998: PPP$ 6 460

· Main food consumed: Sugar & honey, Oil & fat, Rice, Wheat, Meat

· Rice supply, 1999: 60.3 kg paddy/capita/year

Basic Statistics

	1985	1990	1995	2000
RICE
Harvested area (M ha)	4.75	3.94	4.37	3.67
Yield (kg/ha)	1898	1880	2566	3041
Production (M t)	9.02	7.42	11.22	11.16
Imports (T t)	339	413	870	NA
Exports (T t)	3	1	18	NA
OTHERS
Population (M)	135	147	159	NA
Agr population (M)	38	33	30	NA
Irrigated agr area (T)	2100	2700	2656	NA
Fertilzer cons (T t)	3197	3164	4205	NA
Agr tractors in use (T units)	666	720	790	NA

Producing Zones and Cropping Seasons

The State of Rio Grande do Sul is known as the rice bowl of the country. The following table shows the harvested areas from different rice producing zones.

Production zone	Harvested area (% total harvested area)
Rio Grande do Sul	22.25
Maranhao	16.72
Mato Grosso	11.13
Minas Gerais	9.13
Goais	6.90
Piaui	5.68
Para	4.40
Tocantins	3.77
Sao Paulo	3.72
Santa Catarina	3.31
Rondonia	2.83
Parana	2.75
Mato Grosso do Sul	2.49
Bahia	1.50
Ceara	0.99
Acre	0.71
Espirito Santo	0.63
Rio de Janeiro	0.46
Alagoas	0.20
Sergipe	0.17
Pernambuco	0.09
Distrito Federal	0.07
Amazonas	0.04
Paraiba	0.03
Amapa	0.01

The following table shows the period of main rice cropping season in different regions of the country.

Cropping season	Planting	Harvesting
South, main season	9-11	3-4
Northeast, main season	3-5	8-11
North, main season	11-12	4-6

Production Practices

The following figure shows the harvested areas from different ecologies during 1995-2000 period.

In the early years of "Cerrado" (Brazilian savanna) opening, rice was the most attractive pioneer crop. Upland rice was planted in rotation over years with pasture and cattle raising. The harvested area of upland rice attained its peak (4,5 million ha) in 1988/87. Thereafter, the upland rice area declined. About 300,000 ha of rainfed lowland rice are classified as favorable upland.

The major area of irrigated rice is located in Sub-tropical climate in the south, where Rio Grande do Sul accounts for 977,500 ha in the 1998/99 season. In Rio Grande do Sul, the average farm size is 200 ha, rice farming in approximately 550,000 ha is completely mechanized in which land preparation and sowing is performed in dry soil. The other systems are the minimum tillage and seeds are drilled system covering 250,000 ha and broadcasting of pre-germinated seeds to flooded field system covering 100,000 ha.

The other big rice area in the subtropical climate is Santa Catarina, with 113,900 ha in the 1998/99 season. The average farm size is 10 ha. The use of family hand labor is prevalent. Rice crops are established mostly by broadcasting of pre-germinated seeds to flooded fields.

In tropical climate, the biggest irrigation projects are located in the State of Tocantins (TO), with 65,200 ha of irrigated rice, where farmers are predominately big farmers (average property size is 100 ha) and rice cultivation is completely mechanized in which land preparation and sowing is performed in dry soil. In the Northeast region (NE), rice is also grown in irrigation projects under supervision of Federal Government organizations such as the São Francisco Valley Development Company (CODEVASF) and the National Department for Operations against Drought (DNOCS) where rice is grown in the transplanted system, in areas of approximately 4 ha with family labor. Recently, water supply to about 50,000 ha of the upland rice in Cerrado region has been provided with sprinkler irrigation or non-flooded irrigated rice.

Majority of the rice varieties planted in the lowland systems belongs to indica type. Until 1975, varieties in irrigated areas were introductions from USA or Italy. New varieties released in southern Brazil since 1980 are mostly short-stature derived from crosses made by IRRI and CIAT.

· Upland rice varieties

Variety Name	Released period	Growth duration (days)
IAC 1	NA	NA
Acrefino	1993	125
Aimoré	2001	105
Araguaia	1986	128
BR 4	1983	100
BRS Bonança	2001
Cabaçu	1987	132
Caiapó	1994	123
Canastra	1996	130
Carajás	1994	114
Carisma	1999	124
Centro América	1987	100
Confiança	1996	135
Cuiabana	1986	120
Douradão	1989	110
Emcapa 01	1984	110
Guaporé	1988	115
Guarani	1987	110
IAC 1246	-
IAC 164	1980
IAC 165	1980
IAC 201	1992	115
IAC 202	1997
IAC 25	1974	95
IAC 47	1971	120
IAPAR 62	1993	95
IAPAR 63	1993	135
IAPAR 64	1993	135
IAPAR 9	1983
IRAT 112	1982	147
IREM 16-B	1982	146
Maravilha	1993	162
Mearim	1989	105
Primavera	1997	105
Progresso	1993	135
Progresso	1994
Rio Doce	1991
Rio Paraguai	1992	117
Rio Paranaíba	1986	130
Rio Verde	1992	120
Tangará	1988	100
Triunfo	1991
Uruçui	1994	100
Xingu	1989	115
TANGARA	1985-89	NA
ARAGUIA	NA
CIAT 20-PROGRASSO	1990-94	NA

· Irrigated rice varieties

Variety Name	Released period	Growth duration (days)
Ajuricaba	1986	150
Aliança	1990	145
BR 1	1978
BR 2	1978
BR 3 Caeté	1985
BR/MS -1	1989	95
BR/MS-2	1989	120
BR-Caeté	1984	130
BR-IPA	1990
BR-IPA 101	1994
BR-IRGA 408	1975
BR-IRGA 409	1978
BR-IRGA 410	1978
BR-IRGA 411	1985	165
BR-IRGA 412	1986	135
BR-IRGA 413	1986	155
BR-IRGA 414	1987	145
BR-IRGA 415	1989	150
BRS Biguá	2001	125
BRS Jaburu	2001	125
BRS Pelota	2001	125
Capivari	1994	162
Cica 7	1971	132
Cica 8	1972	141
Curumin	1987
Diamante	1996	130
EEA-404	-
EEA-406	-
El Paso 144	1993
Embrapa 130	1997
Embrapa 38	1995	100
Embrapa 39	1995	155
Embrapa 6-Chui	1991	140
Embrapa 7-Taim	1991	160
Emcapa 104	1996	135
Empasc 100	1980
Empasc 101	1980
Empasc 102	1980
Empasc 103	1983
Empasc 104	1985
Empasc 105	1986
Epagri 106	1992	105
Epagri 107	1994	125
Epagri 108	1995	135
Epagri 109	-	135
EPEAL -101	1986	135
EPEAL -102	1986	135
Formoso	2000	125
Franciscano	1988	170
IAC 100	1991	145
IAC 101	1991	145
IAC 120	1965
IAC 1278	1982
IAC 238	1988	165
IAC 242	1988	165
IAC 435	-
IAC 4440	1982
IAPAR 58	1993	140
IR 22	1970
IR665	1976	125
IR841	1974
IRGA 407	1971
IRGA 416	1990
IRGA 417	1995
Javaé	1993	110
Jequitibá	1997	120
Metica 1	1986	130
MG1	1985	135
MG2	1985	135
Mucuri	1995	160
Pericumã	1989
Pesagro 101	1983	165
Pesagro 102	1983	140
Pesagro 103	1983	160
Pesagro 104	1986
Pesagro 105	1986
Pesagro 106	1994	140
Pesagro 107	1994	140
Rio Formoso	1997	125
Rio Grande	1999	140
Samburá	1995	165
São Francisco	1996	130
Sapucaí	1994	160
SCS-111	2000	120
SCS-112	2000	135
Urucuia	1994	153
BLUEBELLE	NA	105
BR IRGA 409	1975-79	130
BR IRGA 410	1975-79	130
BR IRGA 411	1985-89
BR IRGA 412	1985-89	130
BR IRGA 413	1985-89
BR IRGA 414	1985-89	110
BR IRGA 415	1985-89
CICA 9		NA
DIAMANTE-BRA	1990-94	NA
EMPASC 101	1980-84	NA
TAIM	NA	130

Farmers generally applied fertilizers, herbicides and insecticide. The following table shows the responses of rice to fertilizer application.

Other information	Test range (kg/ha)	Control rate (kg/ha)	Control yield (t/ha)	Rate at Maximum yield (kg/ha)	Maximum yield (t/ha)
Nitrogen (N), Irrigated Rice
Reported in 65, Arraio Grande, with 45 P + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	4.4	30	4.99
Reported in 65, Camaqua, with 45 P + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	3.24	0	3.24
Reported in 65, Jaquaro, with 45 P + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	3.72	30	4.01
Reported in 65, Pelotas, with 45 P + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	4.26	30	4.34
Reported in 65, Rio Grande, with 45 P + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	4.88	60	5.33
Reported in 65, Santa Vite, with 45 P + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	5.02	0	5.02
Reported in 65, Sao Laurenco, with 45 P + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	3.11	60	3.53
Phosphorus (P2O5), Irrigated Rice
Reported in 65, Pelotas, with 45 N + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	3.58	60	4.57
Reported in 65, Rio Grande, with 45 N + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	4	30	5.79
Reported in 65, Camaqua, with 45 N + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	2.87	30	3
Reported in 65, Sao Laurenco, with 45 N + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	3.25	60	3.41
Reported in 65, Arraio Grande, with 45 N + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	4.22	0	4.22
Reported in 65, Jaquaro, with 45 N + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	4.04	0	4.04
Reported in 65, Santa Vite, with 45 N + 45 K kg/ha	0-60	0	4.4	30	5.7
Phosphorus (P2O5), Upland Rice
Reported in 77-78, central Brazil, Cerrado soil,	0-66	0	1.1	66	4.8
Reported in 78-79, central Brazil, Cerrado soil	0-66	0	1.9	44	4.5
Potassium (K2O), Irrigated Rice
Reported in 65, Pelotas, with 45 N + 45 P kg/ha	0-60	0	4.33	0	4.33
Reported in 65, Rio Grande, with 45 N + 45 P kg/ha	0-60	0	5.33	60	5.68
Reported in 65, Camaqua, with 45 N + 45 P kg/ha	0-60	0	3.13	0	3.13
Reported in 65, Sao Laurenco, with 45 N + 45 P kg/ha	0-60	0	3.5	60	3.82
Reported in 65, Arraio Grande, with 45 N + 45 P kg/ha	0-60	0	4.64	60	4.72
Reported in 65, Jaquaro, with 45 N + 45 P kg/ha	0-60	0	3.47	30	3.87
Reported in 65, Santa Vite, with 45 N + 45 P kg/ha	0-60	0	4.73	30	5.21
Report in 1990, Experimental farm of National Rice and Bean Research Center at Palmital, Goiania, treated with N, P, Lime and Zn; average of 3 varieties, first crop	0-168	0	4.2	126	4.8
Report in 1990, Experimental farm of National Rice and Bean Research Center at Palmital, Goiania, treated with N, P, Lime and Zn; average of 3 varieties, second crop	0-168	0	5.3	84	5.9
Report in 1990, Experimental farm of National Rice and Bean Research Center at Palmital, Goiania, treated with N, P, Lime and Zn; average of 3 varieties, thirdh crop	0-100	0	5.8	50	6.1
Report in 1990, Experimental farm of National Rice and Bean Research Center at Palmital, Goiania, treated with N, P, Lime and Zn; average of 3 varieties, fourth crop	0-100	0	5.9	75	6.8
Potassium (K2O), Upland Rice
Report in 1990, Experimental farm of National Rice and Bean Research Center at Capivara, Goiania, treated with N, P, Lime and Zn; average of 3 varieties, first crop	0-168	0	1.3	126	1.66
Report in 1990, Experimental farm of National Rice and Bean Research Center at Capivara, Goiania, treated with N, P, Lime and Zn; average of 3 varieties, second crop	0-168	0	1.3	126	1.5
Report in 1990, Experimental farm of National Rice and Bean Research Center at Capivara, Goiania, treated with N, P, Lime and Zn; average of 3 varieties, third crop	0-168	0	0.6	0	0.6
Report in 1990, Experimental farm of National Rice and Bean Research Center at Capivara, Goiania, treated with N, P, Lime and Zn; average of 3 varieties, fourth crop	0-100	0	0.9	50	1.2
Report in 1990, Experimental farm of National Rice and Bean Research Center at Capivara, Goiania, treated with N, P, Lime and Zn; average of 3 varieties, fifth crop	0-100	0	2.1	75	2.4

Constraints and Issues of Sustainable Production

Drought stresses caused by unreliable rainfall, aluminium toxicity and soil fertility losses in dominant upland systems.
Blast in all ecologies.
Togasodes oryzicolus, Rice Hoja Blanca Virus in tropical region.
Weed and Red rice competition.
Low temperature during early and/or reproductive phases in Grando do Sul in the south.
Yield potentials of irrigated rice varieties have reached a plateau.
Land tenancy problem in Rio Grande do Sul.
Red rice, Echinochloa, Cyperus and Aeschyinomene in Rio Grande do Sul and Cyperus and Sagitaria in Santa Catarina.
Iron toxicity in rainfed lowland areas in Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo and in Northern region.
High production cost.

The following table shows the rice production costs.

Other information	Yield (t/ha)	Cost ($/ha)	Cost ($/t)
Santa Carina, irrigated, 1983-84	4.5	567	126
Grande do Sul, irrigated, 1984-85	4.3	925	215
Rio De Janiero, upland, 1983-84	1.43	280	195
Irrigated, 1988-89	4.84	407	84

Sustainable rice production requires the introduction of integrated crop management systems aimed at increasing the efficiency of rice production and cost reduction.

Research and Development Institutes

· EMBRAPA Servico de Producao de Sementes Basicas, Rua Felipe Schmidt, 31, S/501, 88000 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Phone: (0482) 231155, Telex: 48-2324

· Arrozeira Sepeense, C.P. 26, Av. Afonso G. de Faria, 49, 97340 Sao Sepe, Rio Grande do Sul, Phone: (055) 233-1408, Fax: (055) 233-1358

· EMBRAPA/CNPAF, Caixa Postal 179, Goiás, Brazil

· Instituto Agronomico de Campinas, Secao de Plantas Tropicales, C.P. 28,

· Delegaciu Federal da Agricultura, Av. Dr. A Molina, 78150 Varzea Grande, Mato Grosso,

· Secretaria Estadual da Agricultura, Rua Jeronimo Coelho 14, 10 andar, 88000 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Phone: (0482) 222177,

· Secretaria Estadual da Agricultura, C.P. 960, Av. Brasil No. 2340, 13100 Campinas, Sao Paulo, Phone: (0192) 413900,

· Instituto Riograndense do Arroz, C.P. 29, Av. Bonifacio Carvalho Bernardes, 1494, 94930-030 Cachoeirinha, Rio Grande do Sul

· Secretaria Estadual de Agricultura, Av. Julio de Castilhoa 585, 90000 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul,

· Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Arroz e Feijao, C.P. 179, Rodovia Gyn 12 - Km.10, 74001 Goiania 970, Goias, Phone: (062) 261-3022, Telex: 62-2241 XPGN BR, Fax: (062) 261-3880

· EMBRAPA Servico de Producao de Sementes Basicas, Av. Parnamirim, 430, 50000 Recife, Pernambuco, Phone: (081) 268-6929, Telex: 81-1440,

· EMBRAPA Servico de Producao de Sementes Basicas, Av. Anchieta, 173 - Conj.41, 13100 Campinas, Sao Paulo, Phone: (0192) 321955, Telex: 19-1066

· Granjas Irmao SA Agropecuaria, C.P. 69, Prof. Dr. Araujo, 1653, 96020-360 Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Phone: (053) 225-2122, Fax: (053) 222-5374

· Agropecuaria Garupa SA, C.P. 191, Rua Joao Manuel, 2592, 97510-240 Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Phone: (055) 412-3688,

· Arrozeira sul Parceria Agropecuaria, Av. Julio de Castilhos, 625, 96760 Tapes, Rio Grande do Sul, Phone: (051) 672-1276, Fax: (051) 672-1623

· EMBRAPA, Centro Nacional Recursos Geneticos, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria, C.P. 10 2372, S.A.I.N., Parque Rural, 70770 Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Phone: (061) 273-010 Telex: 61-1622, Fax: (061) 274-3212