The latest Agricultural Situation Bulletin from the Department of Rural Economy (Deral), under the State Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply of Paraná, Brazil, disclosed that the Gross Production Value (VBP) of Paraná's agriculture sector has reached R$ 198 billion. This figure underscores the sector's economic strength, primarily driven by grain, cereal, and animal protein production.
In the landscape of Paraná's agribusiness, fruit farming, though not the largest segment, still plays a vital role in the economy. For 2023, the fruit sector's contribution to the Gross Value Added (GVA) stood at 1.5%, amounting to R$2.9 billion. This is attributed to the production of 1.4 million tons of fruit over 54.3 thousand hectares. Citrus farming emerges as the predominant activity within this sector, covering 54% of the total orchard area. It also represents 63.4% of the production volume and 34.2% of the fruit farming GVP in Paraná. Oranges are at the forefront in terms of value, generating R$ 752 million or 26.1% of the sector's GVP, followed by strawberries, grapes, bananas, and tangerines.
Together, these five fruits account for 67.7% of the fruit sector's GVP, 78.3% of the harvest quantity, and 73.6% of the cultivation area in Paraná. Despite its smaller scale within the broader rural economy, fruit growing significantly influences the regions and 392 municipalities where it is present, by creating employment opportunities and contributing to income across various production chain stages.
Source: Abrafrutas