Technology in support of production – Rural Globe

 In a difficult year for the economy , sector of flowers and ornamental plants is swimming against the tide. Last year, the production chain segment moved 5.7 billion reais and this year should close with a moving 6.1 billion reais. The good performance is due mainly to the investment in technology to overcome challenges such as those caused by climate change:. Water shortages and rising temperatures

 The producer Luciano Rios, Holambra, in the interior of São Paulo, is an example of someone who has done their homework to keep competitive in the marketplace . Owner of Rio Flowers site, you’re in the business for 14 years. Has planted chrysanthemum, violets, greenery, but today is dedicated to the cultivation of mini Kalanchoes , family plan of succulents. Cultivation is done in suspended tables and occupies 3000 square meters, of which 30,000 are harvested Kalanchoes a week. But it was not always so.

 In 2012, Rios produced about 15 000 units per week. But the plants did not have the quality of what it produces today. “They grew too, were ugly and needed to rule out,” says the producer, who works with his wife and three employees. The story began to change with the Sebraetec , a technology consultancy offered by Sebrae. “They sent a company that discovered that our fertilization had a lot of nitrogen, which hurt the kalanchoe,” says Rios.

 Since the discovery, the farmer started to put appropriate fertilization and mini Kalanchoes began to have a standard of quality, size and colors that pleased the market and earned Rios an increase of 30% on the bank of sales price. All production of Rio Flowers site is delivered to Veiling cooperative that distributes throughout Brazil.

  X-ray Sebrae made a study on the flower sector , which indicates the investment in technology as a way to overcome bottlenecks and increase competitiveness.

 The material shows that between 67% and 70% of the area occupied by growing flowers and ornamental plants is conducted in the open; between 28% and 30% has greenhouses protection and a percentage ranging from 3% to 5% has screens protection. The data show the room for adoption of technologies – like the use of greenhouses. – To improve the climate control and the water management of farmers

 According to the Brazilian Institute of Flowers (Ibraflor), Brazil has 8,248 flower growers, who cultivate an area of ​​14,992 hectares. The segment accounts for 215,600 direct jobs and per capita consumption of flowers and ornamental plants in Brazil is 26 reais per year.