State of Paraná becomes the second largest milk producer in Brazil and attracts investments

Paraná moved from third to second place among the main milk producers in the country, according to consolidated data from the Municipal Livestock Survey (PPM) of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), based in 2018. The State produced more than 4.4 billion liters in that period. As a result, it was second only to Minas Gerais, which produced 8.9 billion in the year. Strong growth in recent years should attract investments in technologies to increase efficiency from the field to the industry.

The IBGE survey shows that Castro, located in Campos Gerais, leads the Brazilian production with 292 million liters. The city is home to the Castrolanda cooperative. In second place is the municipality of Patos de Minas (MG), which produced 193 million liters. In Paraná, another highlight is the headquarters city of Batavo, Carambeí, with 180 million liters, which occupies the third position in the national ranking.

The State Secretary for Agriculture and Supply, Norberto Ortigara, told the Paraná News Agency (Aen) that the IBGE figures confirm the efforts of Paraná producers and consolidate the state as a major producer of animal proteins.

“Last year we produced 5.6 million tons of meat and 4.4 billion liters of milk, returning to occupy the second position in the national ranking, but also consolidating the south of Brazil as the ‘Mecca’ of milk”, said .

SECTOR LIVES MOMENT OF EXPANSION

Brazil is the fourth largest milk producer in the world. However, it is still not a major exporter, as in the meat sector. This scenario should change and the qualification of Brazilian dairy products to China, in the second half of last year, should contribute to this process.

Andrea Gessulli, director of AveSui América Latina, an event that takes place in Medianeira, Western Paraná, points out that investments in technologies should increase in order to improve quality, manufacturing processes and the efficiency of the field for the industry. The model must be close to those adopted by cooperatives from Paraná, which started to serve the domestic market with a wide variety of dairy products, reaching the most diverse consumer niches.

MILK SHOULD BOOST INVESTMENTS

The advance of Paraná as the second main producer of milk and the expectation that Brazil will advance in its exports of protein should encourage new investments by both rural producers and the processing industry. Thus, according to Andrea Gessulli, AveSui opened the doors of the fair for this protein last year.

In this year’s edition, which takes place from the 28^th to the 30^th of July, at Lar Centro de Eventos, the idea is to expand and give more space to exhibitors and specific visitors of dairy farming. It will be the first year of the Milk Pavilion, created specifically to serve this audience. In addition to milk, AveSui – a traditional poultry and pork fair – also covers the fish sector.

“The Pavilhão de Leite space is located in a strategic and privileged location for the exhibitor to make face-to-face contacts with his client, in a practical way, creating opportunities and generating visibility, like a showcase. In just three days at the fair, companies make contact with poultry, pork, milk and fish producers ”, summarizes Andrea.