(Source - Seed News magazine)

Rice is one of the basic typical food in Brazil. Per capita consumption is about 40 kg. per year.

It is produced in irrigated and dry lands.  Irrigated areas produce about 70% of the total volume considering an annual production of about 12 million ton.

Comparing the planted area and yield on the last 20 years, the rice yield increased more than 50%, reaching about 7.4 ton per hectare.  The key reasons for such increase in yield were better crop management, better development of OP varieties and hybrids introduction.

Planted area with hybrid rice started with about 6,000 ha. in 2007, moving to 40,000 ha. in 2009 and more recently to 110,000 ha. (see graphic).

The trend is that the adoption of the hybrids keep growing.

At present time about 1, 2 million hectares of rice is sowed in South of Brazil and under irrigation. This is the region where hybrids are being introduced. The seed rate on this region is about 80-100 kg. for OP and 40 kg./ hectare per hybrid. So, the seed cost per hectare in hybrids is about 4 times more than the cost of OP. If a hybrid seed produces 1, 5 ton. more per hectare, such cost difference is viable.