“The Brazilian pumpkin production is only small, but the demand is rising due to its nutritional characteristics. Mainly the Japanese variety (Cabotiá) in growing in popularity. The return in pumpkin production is relatively fast, as they have a cycle of only a few months. When proper crop management is used, pumpkins can easily adapt to various types of soil. Therefore, it’s as well a good option for crop rotation”. This was recently published by HF Brasil based magazine that focuses on the smaller crops of the Brazilian production, but which have potential.
It says that the main pumpkin producing regions in Brazil are Minas Gerais, Goiás, São Paulo, Bahia, Paraná and Santa Catarina. “The ideal regions for this production are those with warm and humid climate conditions. Overall, the profitability is good, but profits vary during the harvest period. Excessive supply can pressure prices. The demand is restricted to the national market, which is usually satisfactory with the peak during winter.”
The biggest challenge for pumpkin producers is when it comes to marketing, according to HF Brasil. “It’s necessary to know the market for better profitability. Also, sometimes high logistics costs hinder the outflow of products.”
To find out more about the smaller products, please review the April edition (in Portuguese). Only a little agronomic information is available on these crops, so producers and traders have been asked for their information. Besides pumpkins, as well zucchini, beet, persimmon, coconut, cucumber and peach are discussed in this issue.