Socioeconomic and environmental impacts of ratooning rice production in the microregion of Rio Formoso, Tocantins State

Abstract

The rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants are able to generate fertile tillers after harvest. This sprouting, called ratoons, allows a second harvest, which may become a feasible alternative to increase yields in different ecosystems, mainly in low lands, due to its adaptability. As soil tillage and seeding are not required, the ratoon cultivation demands 60% less water and 50% less labor than the main crop. Additionally, it increases the rice production per cultivation area and time as the season is shorter than of the main crop. The success of the ratoon crop is determined by management practices adopted for the main crop, such as seeding date, height of cutting the plants, fertilizer management, seeding and harvesting procedures as well as practices that promote a fast and uniform sprouting, like nitrogen fertilizers, irrigation water management and crop protection. Ratoons represent an alternative to increase production without additional land area and with lower production costs, reducing seasonality of machinery use, increasing yields of tropical low lands with environmental and product quality, improving farmers livelihoods. The regional impacts of ratooning in the lowlands of Rio Formoso microregion of Tocantins State were evaluated in the economic, social and environmental dimensions, considering a period of five years. The economic assessment was based on the economic surplus method, using official production data from 2003 to 2007 and the production costs for irrigated rice in Tocantins State. Ratooning was estimated to be adopted in 20% of cultivated area, generating an economic surplus varying from 2 million reais in season 2002/2003 to 0.3 million reais in season 2006/2007, representing an additional production of 13 thousand tons of paddy in 2003 and 1.2 thousand tons in 2007. The social and environmental assessments were based on the Ambitec-Social and Ambitec-Agro, developed by Embrapa Environment. Rice ratooning in the study area obtained social impact index of 0.43 and an environmental impact index of 0.03.