Ceará is set to expand its melon farmland by 1,500 hectares for export in 2025, as noted by Silvio Carlos Ribeiro, Executive Secretary of Agribusiness at the State Secretariat for Economic Development (SDE). This expansion marks a 50% increase in the current 3,000 hectares dedicated to melon farming for international markets.
Melons play a pivotal role in Ceará's fruit export sector, accounting for 69.8% of the $85.6 million in fruit exports registered in 2024. "I don't have an exact number yet, but I am confident that exports will increase in 2025," Ribeiro stated in an interview with O POVO.
The new melon fields are located in São João do Aruarú, between Morada Nova and Ocara, approximately 166.5 kilometers from Fortaleza. Itaueira Agropecuária plans to resume melon exports in this area after a seven-year hiatus due to past water supply challenges. Improved water resources now support increased production.
The irrigation model is employed for melon production. Itaueira also cultivates watermelons, peppers, and fruit pulp across Ceará. The company has operations in Piauí, Bahia, and Rio Grande do Norte.
Ribeiro identified three factors contributing to the confidence among producers. The first is water supply, enhanced by the São Francisco River Water Transposition and improved water efficiency. The Ceará Water Resource Management Company (Cogerh) reported the 9th highest reservoir volume since 2003 in January 2025, with storage at 44% capacity.
Another factor is the expansion of fruit fly-free areas in Morada Nova, monitored by ADAGRI, which is crucial for exports to the U.S. and Europe. The third factor is regional energy supply improvements. The state's Special Electric Power Investment Program (PIE) prioritizes infrastructure projects, with Enel financing based on a model using 1% of the previous year's net revenue from electricity sales for state projects.
Efforts to secure buyers and attract international producers are ongoing. Ribeiro attended Fruit Logistica in Berlin, highlighting Ceará's potential. The event drew interest from Austria, Spain, Israel, the UK, the U.S., and India.
Ceará's fruits, shipped from Pecém and Mucuripe ports, primarily reach the UK and Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with Rotterdam serving as a distribution hub. The government aims to target markets such as the Middle East and China. There are also plans to increase mango and banana production for export.
Source: Datamar News