MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil heading for record crop of 185 million tons of grains, anticipated Rousseff

Generous loans at preferential rates for the ‘most efficient and modern’ agriculture

Brazil this year will harvest the largest grain and oilseed crop in the country’s history, which could reach 185 million tons, according to an announcement from President Dilma Rousseff during her weekly radio message.

“And all this volume without taking into account our intensive agriculture such as fresh vegetables, fruit, meats, diary produce, coffee and sugar”, underlined President Rousseff, who attributed success among other things to the government’s strong financial support to peasants and family agriculture all year round.

“For this harvest the government awarded 115bn Real (approx 57.5bn dollars) to help finance agri-business and another 18bn Real (9bn dollars) to support family farming”, added the Brazilian leader.

Rousseff said that government financing was offered at preferential interest rates and other advantages, “all of which helped one of the largest investments in seeds, farm equipment and improved technologies.

“Because of this support today we have one of the most efficient and modern agricultures in the world” said Rousseff adding that “each year Brazilian farmers have been offered more and more credit to improve production methods and to improve work conditions in the fields”