July 10, 2014
Paraguay sees record soy harvest in 2014
Paraguay has seen a record harvest of over nine million tonnes this year, a 13% increase compared to 2013, according to figures by the Paraguayan Chamber of Grains and Oilseeds Exporters, Capeco.
The exact volume stands at 9,285 tonnes, which has also come with an increase of the area planted and more encouraging prospects for 2014.
The previous crop and record was during 2013 with 8,202.190 tonnes with an area of 3,254.982 hectares, which is 97.982 hectares more than last year.
"Abundant rains in the second half of January and first half of February, except in the north of the country helped production and yields", said Luis Cubilla an agronomist from Capeco.
Cubilla also revealed that of the total soyproduction, near 8.1 million tonnes, are processed by the local oil industry and shipped overseas. The rest of the harvest, almost 1.2 million tonnes are left for seeds.
"The abundance of soy protein has also been essential for Paraguay''s chicken and pork farming and feed lots to fatten cattle. The pellets and seeds industry generate abundant jobs and investment which further helps to expand the soy agriculture" explained Hector Grisaldo, president of the Production Unions, UGP.
As for yields, the average figure in the Alto Paraná region was a production of 3.4 million tonnes with 3,370 kg per hectare, Itaupá with an annual crop of 1.7 million tonnes and an average yield of 2.643kg, and Canindeyú with 1.6 million tonnes and a yield of 2.683 kg.
Paraguay is among the world''s leading exporters of soy behind, Brazil, US and Argentina.