Producers are frustrated by the insufficient rain affecting peanut harvest, which should have been more abundant.

The latest survey conducted by the National Supply Company (Conab) reveals a modest growth of 3.8% in peanut production for the 2023/24 harvest, a figure significantly lower than the initially anticipated 6% increase in volume. This news comes as the peanut harvest in São Paulo, Brazil's primary producing state accounting for approximately 90% of the total production, nears its conclusion. However, farmers invested in the crop are facing frustration due to adverse weather conditions that have impacted crop productivity, resulting in a diminished volume of the oilseed harvest.

In regions such as Tupã, Marília, Jaboticabal, Assis, and Bariri, among others, the persistent lack of rainfall is cited as the primary factor hampering peanut cultivation. Even those who opted for extended production cycles find themselves unable to rely on the necessary precipitation. Consequently, productivity levels are expected to decline, dropping from 4.04 tons per hectare in the previous cycle to approximately 3.64 tons per hectare in the current year.

Producers in Itajubá (SP), echoing the sentiments expressed by Conab's latest projections, express disappointment with the harvest outcomes. Despite initially planting a 15% larger area, farmers had anticipated achieving a volume increase of up to 6% compared to the previous cycle, as per earlier Conab projections.

Airton Luiz Bonati, a peanut producer from Bariri, highlights the multifaceted impact of the adverse weather conditions on cultivation. Bonati, who has been cultivating four hectares for four years, notes that 2023 yielded the best results for peanuts. However, he expresses concerns about maintaining productivity levels amid challenges such as seed selection and management practices, exacerbated by the absence of sufficient rainfall.

In summary, the latest Conab survey underscores the challenges faced by peanut farmers in Brazil, who find themselves grappling with below-expectation production growth due to adverse weather conditions, particularly the persistent lack of rainfall in key producing regions. These challenges not only affect the quantitative output but also raise concerns about the qualitative aspects of peanut cultivation, leaving farmers like Bonati uncertain about the future of their crops.