Agriculture in Brazil

Agriculture in Brazil
Brazil, "breadbasket of the world"
Area cultivated	65,338,804 ha.
Cropland (% of land area)	31%
Rural population	5,965,000 families
Main products	sugarcane, coffee, soybeans, corn.
Production
Grains (2008)	145.4 million tons
Major products
Cane and derivatives (2007/08)	493.4 million tons
Soy (2008)	59.2 million tons
Corn (2008)yugfvb	58.9 million tons
Participation in the economy – 2008
Crop value	R$148.4 billion ($65.56 bil. USD)
Contribution to GDP	4.53%
Agribusiness GDP (Rural industry and trade, livestock and agriculture)	26.46%

The agriculture of Brazil is historically one of the principal bases of Brazil's economy. While its initial focus was on sugarcane, Brazil eventually became the world's largest exporter of coffee, soybeans, beef, and crop-based ethanol.

The success of agriculture during the Estado Novo (New State), with Getúlio Vargas, led to the expression, "Brazil, breadbasket of the world".

As of 2009 Brazil had about 106,000,000 hectares (260,000,000 acres) of undeveloped fertile land – a territory larger than the combined area of France and Spain.

According to a 2008 IBGE study, despite the world financial crisis, Brazil had record agricultural production, with growth of 9.1%, principally motivated by favorable weather. The production of grains in the year reached an unprecedented 145,400,000 tons. That record output employed an additional 4.8% in planted area, totalling 65,338,000 hectares and producing $148 billion Reals. The principal products were corn (13.1% growth) and soy (2.4% growth).

The southern one-half to two-thirds of Brazil has a semi-temperate climate, higher rainfall, more fertile soil, more advanced technology and input use, adequate infrastructure and more experienced farmers. This region produces most of Brazil's grains, oilseeds (and exports).

The drought-ridden northeast region and Amazon basin lack well-distributed rainfall, good soil, adequate infrastructure and development capital. Although mostly occupied by subsistence farmers, both regions are increasingly important as exporters of forest products, cocoa and tropical fruits. Central Brazil contains substantial areas of grassland. Brazilian grasslands are far less fertile than those of North America, and are generally suited only for grazing.

Agriculture in Brazil presents challenges, including the ongoing practice of slave labour,agrarian reform, fire, production financing, and a rural exodus fueled by economic stress on family farming.

Half of Brazil is covered by forests. The world's largest rain forest is in the Amazon Basin. Migrations into the Amazon and large-scale forest burning have challenged the government's management capabilities. The government has reduced incentives for such activity and is implementing a broader environmental plan. It also adopted an Environmental Crimes Law that established serious penalties for infractions.