Bianca Paiva
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília – The area of planted cropland for the 2005/2006 harvest in Brazil is expected to decrease overall 4.3%, compared to the 2004/2005 harvest. The biggest decreases will be in cotton, down 30%, or less some 353,300 hectares, and rice, down 20%, or 782,400 hectares.

The estimates are from the National Supply Company (Conab) and are part of its third regular survey of the agricultural sector. The latest survey was made between January 23 and 27 in 410 municipalities.

The states most affected by the reductions in cotton cropland are Mato Grosso (less 126,400 hectares), Goiás (-74,700 hectares), Paraná (-39,300 hectares) and São Paulo (-37,600 hectares). Mato Grosso will also have the most significant reduction in rice cropland, down 466,100 hectares, a decrease of 60%.

Translation: Allen Bennett