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Ituporanga Region Concentrates The Largest Planted Area Of Onions In The Country, Generates Over R$ 1 Billion Per Harvest And Sustains Thousands Of Families In The Catarinense Agriculture
The city of Ituporanga, in Santa Catarina, houses the largest onion farm in Brazil, with production exceeding 370 thousand tons in the 2023/24 harvest, keeping the state as the national leader in the cultivation of the vegetable, despite the growing threats from Argentine imports, which concern local producers and authorities.
Santa Catarina is the largest onion producer in Brazil, responsible for almost 30% of the entire national production. The main productive area is in the municipality of Ituporanga, known as the National Onion Capital, with about 5 thousand hectares cultivated. The crop generates over R$ 1 billion per harvest and ensures the livelihood of at least 10 thousand families linked to the field and the local agribusiness.
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The water that almost everyone throws away after cooking potatoes carries nutrients released during the preparation and can be reused to help in the development of plants when used correctly at the base of gardens and pots, at no additional cost and without changing the routine.
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The sea water temperature rose from 28 to 34 degrees in Santa Catarina and killed up to 90% of the oysters: producers who planted over 1 million seeds lost practically everything and say that if it happens again, production is doomed to end.
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An Indian tree that grows in the Brazilian Northeast produces an oil capable of acting against more than 200 species of pests and interrupting the insect cycle, gaining ground as a natural alternative in soybean, cotton, and vegetable crops.
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The rise in oil prices in the Middle East is already affecting Brazilian sugar: mills in the Central-South are seeing their margins shrink just as ethanol gains strength.
In addition to its economic importance, onion cultivation has cultural roots in the region, being passed down from generation to generation. In many rural properties, the work is entirely family-run, from harvesting to curing the onion, a process essential for increasing the vegetable’s durability and commercial quality.
Highlight City And Financial Yield
The city of Ituporanga leads as the largest producer in the state, followed by other municipalities in the Alto Vale do Itajaí. With a productivity of 21,576 kg/ha, the state achieved a revenue of R$ 64,169 per hectare. Despite being lower than other regions in productivity per area, Santa Catarina stands out for its total production scale and the organization of small producers.
Argentine Competition Threatens National Leadership
In recent months, producers from Santa Catarina and political representatives have warned about the risks of unfair competition with imported onions from Argentina, which have entered Brazil without adequate taxation. According to federal deputy Rafael Pezenti (MDB), the lack of an external tariff on Argentine products has devalued internal prices, directly affecting the profitability of local farms.
While the average production cost of onions hovers around R$ 1.20 per kilo, selling prices have fluctuated between R$ 0.80 and R$ 1, leading to losses for Brazilian rural producers. Pezenti advocates that Brazil adopt measures similar to those of Argentina, which imposes 20% tariffs on Brazilian sugar to protect the internal market.
Innovation And Technology In The Field
To maintain the competitiveness of the Santa Catarina onion farm, initiatives in genetic research and sustainable management have been developed with the support of Epagri and universities like UFSC. The hybrid seeds, more resistant to climate and diseases, have contributed to increasing productivity and reducing losses.
At Epagri’s experimental field in Ituporanga, pesticide-free management tests have demonstrated the viability of organic farming, with yields of up to 25 tons per hectare. The researchers’ work seeks to combine tradition with technology in agribusiness, promoting sustainability and food security.
Onion Festival Boosts Local Economy
Every year, the city of Ituporanga celebrates its production with the National Onion Festival, one of the largest agricultural events in Brazil. In the last edition, the event generated over R$ 150 million in business, in addition to attracting tourists from various regions and enhancing the role of the rural producer in the national economy.
Furthermore, rural tourism projects have gained strength around the farms, with farming families offering experiences in the field, regional cuisine, and derived products, such as the smoked onion, an innovation launched by a local agribusiness.
Performance And Future Of National Production
According to data from IBGE, Brazil harvested over 4 million tons of onions in the 2023/24 harvest, with a national average of 33,226 kg/ha. Santa Catarina, despite being below the average in productivity per hectare, leads in volume and planted area, establishing itself as a national reference.
However, the future of the Brazilian onion farm depends on the federal government’s actions regarding import policy, support for agricultural technology, and incentives for family farming, which represents the backbone of production in the Alto Vale do Itajaí.
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