Brazil Hits Record Grain Harvest

Brasilia, Sep 10. -Brazil harvested a record 162.90 million tons of grains in 2010/2011, according to the latest figures of the National Supply Company (CONAB) released in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.The figure, including cereals, leguminous and oleaginous plants, is 9.2 above the previous harvest, when the country harvested 149.20 million tons.

In a press release about this result, Minister of Agriculture Merides Ribeiro said "it shows the strength of Brazilian agriculture and the ever increasing importance of the country as a world food supplier."

He said that this harvest confirms Brazila's contribution to fighting hunger in the country and the world, as well as to facing the economic crisis affecting several developed countries.

CONAB Head of Harvest Assessment Carlos Bestetti attributed these good results to a La Nina weather phenomenon-driven good rain regime and the 49.90 million hectares planted with grains, a 5.3-percent increase compared to the previous harvest, when 47.40 million hectares were planted. (Prensa Latina)