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Safra Plan is welcome, but ORPLANA draws attention to the need to equalize interest rates
ORPLANA, the main organization of sugarcane producers in Brazil and in the world, was present at the launch event of the Crop Plan 2023/2024 on Tuesday (27) in Brasília. The Federal Government announced the availability of BRL 364,2 billion to encourage national agricultural production by medium and large rural producers, marking an increase of 26,8% compared to the 2022/23 program.
ORPLANA Positively Evaluates the Plan, Despite Concerns with Interest
The entity recognizes and supports the government's initiative. “We are in a phase of vigorous and capital-intensive growth in agriculture. In this scenario, sugarcane and its producers consume large resources for their investments and to guarantee an exceptional harvest of sugarcane, thus contributing to the growth of Brazil. Therefore, this 26,8% increase in financial volume is good news”, points out Gustavo Rattes de Castro, President of ORPLANA.
However, the organization highlights the need to equalize interest rates, which directly affect sugarcane producers. “We recognize the Government's efforts with this new Crop Plan, but the issue of interest equalization needs to be improved. Double-digit rates burden the producer”, emphasizes Castro.
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The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, shares the same point of view and criticized the maintenance of the Selic rate at 13,75%, arguing that it is disconnected from the global reality and harms the country's development.
Sustainability and Environmental Conservation in the Focus of the Safra Plan
The 2023/2024 Crop Plan not only increased the financial volume, but also encouraged sustainability by reducing the interest rate for producers who adopt conservation and environmental preservation practices. “ORPLANA associates will benefit from this innovation, as we rigorously prioritize sustainable practices in all production processes”, reports José Guilherme Nogueira, CEO of the entity, which represents more than 700 hectares of sugarcane cultivation in Brazil.
ORPLANA is in line with the directive of the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, that it is possible to boost production with a focus on sustainability. For this purpose, the entity has invested and developed projects that bring knowledge and education so that the preservation and enhancement of sustainable agriculture are increasingly incorporated by sugarcane producers in Brazil.
