October 2013 - An agreement signed by the State Government of Rio Grande do Sul with the Tobacco Growers' Association of Brazil (Afubra) and the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco) will encourage the introduction of irrigation systems in small tobacco farming holdings throughout the State. This is the assurance given by the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Agribusiness, Luiz Fernando Mainardi, who signed the cooperation agreement, last Tuesday evening, 8th October, during a festive evening with the press, at SindiTabaco's curing ban stand, located in the Oktoberfest Park, in Santa Cruz do Sul.

The cooperation agreement calls for joint efforts for the implementation and dissemination of the 'More Income, More Water Program', the brainchild of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Afubra members and integrated growers who deliver their tobacco to the industry.

In Mainardi's view, the integration of the two entities, with the involvement of their respective technical assistants, will popularize the use of irrigation systems by the farmers, thus contributing towards strengthening the initiatives that seek crop diversification. "Our goal is to foster mechanisms that boost farmers' income", the secretary explained, adding that irrigation, besides ensuring production stability, leads to higher productivity levels and to better quality standards.

Mainardi equally explained that, by building water reservoirs and investing in the acquisition of equipment, taking advantage of subsidies that range from 12% to 30%, depending on the size of the farm, the farmers create the necessary conditions for a second annual crop. "After tobacco has been harvested, taking advantage of soil prepared for that crop, other farm products can be planted, like corn and black-beans, which, once irrigated, will be more productive" he said. This will boost farmers' income, Mainardi concluded.

Afubra president Benício Albano Werner referred to tobacco as a highly profitable crop. "From a planted area of 149 thousand hectares, we derived revenue of R$ 2.6 billion, but if corn had been cultivated instead, this number would have been reduced to R$ 263 million", the president said. In his view, irrigation will allow the farmers to join "precision farming", besides diversifying their income sources.

SindiTabaco president Iro Schünke, in turn, pledged that everything that boosts the income of the integrated farmers will get ample support from the industry. "This partnership is a manner to improve farmers' earnings, not only from tobacco, but from other crops, too", said the chief-executive officer.

SindiTabaco vice-president of Production and Quality, Claudimir Rodrigues, anticipated that about 500 industry technicians will join the initiative which will effectively start with 150 tobacco farmers throughout the regions where tobacco is grown, and these farmers will have the role to validate and multiply the technology.

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