The favorable conditions in Rio Grande do Norte, including climate, fertile land, and water reserves, have contributed to the growth of fruit crops over the last decade. The region is known for the '4Ms' - melon, watermelon, mango, and papaya - which represent 14.72% of Brazil's production of these fruits. In 2022, Rio Grande do Norte produced approximately 775.4 thousand tons out of the 5.266 million tons harvested nationally. This data comes from the latest Municipal Agricultural Production survey by the IBGE, highlighting that the area planted with these four fruits spanned 31,742 hectares. Furthermore, these fruits constitute nearly half of Brazil's fruit exports annually.
Farmers in the region see potential for further growth in fruit farming. Aldair José Vital da Silva, a farmer in the Baixo Açu Irrigation District (Diba), has expanded his land from 24 hectares to more than 48 hectares over the past seven years, with aspirations to reach 100 hectares. The expansion of mango cultivation is particularly notable, with a company in the Vale do Açu region increasing its mango plantation from 40 hectares to 600 hectares over 25 years. José Aldair, who cultivates mangoes alongside papaya and banana on 72 hectares, exports almost 70% of his mango production, mainly to the United States and Europe. He also noted a significant increase in productivity due to advancements in technology and irrigation systems.
Michel Ângelo de Macedo de Lima Cosme, president of Diba, reported favorable conditions for fruit production in the region, with the reservoir at 85% capacity and rainfall exceeding 1,200 millimeters. While melons and watermelons have a smaller presence in Diba, papaya and mangoes are more prominently cultivated, alongside bananas, coconuts, and lemons.
Source: abrafrutas.org