|
06/04/10 – Brazilian coffee, sugar-cane, orange and corn crops are benefiting from rains that help prepare the soil for dryness in coming months and may boost yields, a meteorologist said.
Rains that flooded cities in Rio de Janeiro state, killing at least 79 people, will help moisten the soil in the Center South of Brazil, which produces most of the country´s farm output, said Paulo Etchichury, the head of Sao Paulo-based forecaster Somar Meteorologia. Brazil is the world´s largest producer of coffee, sugar and orange juice.
“More intense rain isn´t a reason for concern and may help farmers increase yields,” Etchichury said in a telephone interview today. “Catastrophes happened in urban areas but not in the countryside where crops are located.”
Record rainfall of 288 millimeters (11 inches) in the past 24 hours flooded the city of Rio de Janeiro, forcing residents to stay home today. Etchichury said he expects showers to diminish in the Center South region starting tomorrow. |
