The level of technological adoption by sunflower producers showed a decline in the 2023/24 campaign, according to an analysis by the Applied Agricultural Technology Survey (Retaa), prepared by the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange (BCBA).
The concept of “technological level” refers to the use of inputs and technical management applied in grain production, distinguishing 3 levels of adoption: “high”, “medium” and “low”.
This parameter is essential to assess the degree of modernization and efficiency of agricultural practices in cultivation. In the 2023/24 cycle, technology adoption was distributed at 29% “high” level, 64% “medium” and 7% “low”. This represents a 4% drop in the highest level compared to the previous campaign.
As a final result, the country’s total production measured in millions of tons experienced a decline of 22%.
Looking at the series of the last seven campaigns, the current campaign recorded the highest value in terms of low technological level, going back to proportions similar to those observed in the 2014/15 and 2016/17 campaigns, with 9% and 8% respectively.
“From the 2014/15 campaign onwards, most producers have used a medium technological level, which suggests a tendency towards stability in this category, although with fluctuations in the high and low levels,” the report assessed.
During the 2023/24 cycle, almost all variables measured by the Research and Prospective Department experienced a decline, except for the percentage of sunflower varieties resistant to herbicides.
This exception was not enough to offset the overall decline in the high technological level, which led to a decline to values similar to those of 2017/18. “The drop in the high level can be attributed to several factors, such as the reduction in the use of direct seeding and the decrease in fertilization doses,” the report said.
On this, he stressed: “These variations have affected the efficiency and productivity of sunflowers, highlighting the need to strengthen technical support and the adoption of advanced technologies to improve yields in future campaigns.”
Source: All News
