MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay’s 2010/11 soy bean crop could reach 8.4 million tons

In 2001, the area planted with soybeans in Paraguay was 1.350.000 hectares

Paraguay’s 2010/11 soy bean crop covers 2.830.000 hectares (twice the area ten years ago) and the expected yield is between 2.900 and 3.100 kilos per hectare according to the latest satellite pictures in hands of the Paraguayan Chamber of Grains and Oilseed Exporters, Capeco.
So far the record yield dates back to 2003 with a national average of 2.915 kilos.

“The 2.8 million hectares for the 2010/11 crop is not definitive since there are some areas close to pathways which still have to be evaluated. More precise data will be available after Easter” said agronomist Luis Cubilla, head of the Capco technical department.

A simple multiplication of the estimated area and yield means Paraguay should be harvesting a crop of 8.4 million tons of soy beans, compared to the 7.4 million tons from the previous crop.

According to Capeco, soybeans cover 17.9% of Paraguay’s farmland, but if all available land is included which means poor grasslands for livestock the percentage drops to 7% out of the 40 million hectares of the country.

Paraguay is also in the course of planting the second corn crop (zafinha), the second most important after soybeans. Corn is planted because of a 90 days phytosanitary ban on the second soy harvest with the purpose of keeping fields clear of soy rust and brown spot.

Paraguay’s last year’s soy bean crop covered 2.680.182 hectares with an average yield of 2.752 kilos per hectare.