- Title: Brazilian crops rot on the vine as lockdown depresses demand
- Date: 9th April 2020
- Summary: PIEDADE, SAO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL (APRIL 8, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS, FIELDS OF CROPS AT FARM VARIOUS, FARMERS WALKING IN FIELDS VARIOUS, FARMER WITH LETTUCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN FARMER, VALDIR JOSE, SAYING: "The demand went down a lot and supply went up. That resulted in a lot of loss. There are areas that will end up not being used, there won't be a harvest, it will be lost. Some will be donated, but since there is so much, part will be donated, but 90% will be lost. That's the reality today for a farmer." VARIOUS, PERSIMMONS IN ORCHARD VARIOUS, PERSIMMON GROWER, ISAO SAKAGUTI, IN ORCHARD VARIOUS, PERSIMMONS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PERSIMMON GROWER, ISAO SAKAGUTI, SAYING: "Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, I'm going to be able to pick just 1% of this crop. And, I really don't know what to do now, or where I'll send it. A part will go to make compost, and I would like to donate some to organizations." VARIOUS, WORKER AT LOCAL FARMERS' COOPERATIVE WITH LIMES VARIOUS, WORKERS WITH ORANGES WAREHOUSE AT COOPERATIVE VARIOUS, PRODUCE IN BASKETS VARIOUS, WORKERS WITH BASKETS FULL OF PRODUCE ORDERS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) MANAGER OF LOCAL FARMERS' COOPERATIVE, HENRIQUE DA SILVA, SAYING: "Everything stopped in the sense of selling our crops. So, we found a practical way to sell by delivery. We were able to restructure and save at least a little bit of the crops." VARIOUS, LOCAL RESIDENT RECEIVING A BASKET OF PRODUCE FROM COOPERATIVE VIA DELIVERY VARIOUS, LOCAL RESIDENT AT HOME WITH PRODUCE, WASHING ITEMS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) LOCAL RESIDENT, CARMEM BATISTA, SAYING: "It's the first time I'm using the app. I put in the order yesterday, they're delivering it today. I like the convenience since I don't have to leave home. I did it all by mobile phone, and they delivered it fast."
- Embargoed: 23rd April 2020 16:16
- Keywords: Brazil agriculture apps coronavirus crops delivery farmers fields food lockdown quarantine restrictions
- Location: PIEDADE, SAO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL
- City: PIEDADE, SAO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA001C8RUEKN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The impact of the new coronavirus is being felt far and wide on economies around the world, and Brazilian farmers are watching forlornly as their carefully tended crops sit unpicked in fields as restaurants and markets stay closed and transportation networks are scrambled under restrictions designed to halt the spread of the disease.
In a farming town outside the megacity of Sao Paulo, fully grown heads of lettuce sit in fields and fruit trees produce a crop destined for compost.
Local farmer Valdir Jose told Reuters, "demand went down a lot and supply went up. That resulted in a lot of loss. There won't be a harvest, it will be lost."
Scrambling to come up with ways to get produce to consumers as markets shutter, a local farmers' cooperative has turned to direct delivery via an online application.
Now, instead of processing vast quantities of produce to go directly to markets, the cooperative is packing individual orders in baskets for delivery to locals.
"We found a practical way to sell by delivery. We were able to restructure and save at least a little bit of the crops," says cooperative manager Henrique da Silva.
Brazil's inflation slowed sharply in March, official figures showed on Thursday (April 09), falling to its lowest for that month in over quarter of a century as the new coronavirus crisis sapped demand for household goods and transport.
But, food and drink inflation jumped to 1.13% in March from 0.11% in February. As more people bought food to cook at home rather than go out to eat, the cost of onions and carrots jumped more than 20% and the price of tomatoes rose more than 15% in the month.
Confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in the country soared to 15,927 on Wednesday (April 08), with the death toll rising by 133 in just 24 hours to 800, according to the health ministry.
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