In recent years, agricultural activity has been growing significantly in the municipalities of Sul de Minas, closest to the border with the state of São Paulo. The horticultural segment has been expanding both in cultivated area and is also gaining importance in the Gross Domestic Product of the region.
Regional technical coordinator at Emater-MG, Raul Maria Cássia, says that several factors have driven the development of horticulture in Sul de Minas. One of them is the geographic location, close to the Fernão Dias Highway, one of the most important routes for the outflow of national production.
The need for a small area to support more people is a stimulus for the implantation of crops with a faster cycle and that generate a higher income per hectare, such as strawberry, which has become
In 2021, Emater-MG estimates a production of 144,000 tons of strawberries in the south of Minas Gerais. Another advantage of the strawberry is that, with the use of semi-hydroponic cultivation and new varieties, it is possible to harvest all year round and for up to three years, generating a constant income for the producer, unlike most cultures that only guarantee a profit at harvest time.
Source: abrafrutas.org
