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Precision Agriculture Use In Selected Agricultural Regions In Brazil
1R. Y. Inamasu, 2A. C. Bernardi
1. Embrapa Instrumentacao
2. Embrapa Pecuaria Sudeste
Investment in technology brought Brazil to the position among the top agricultural producers in the world. Brazilian agricultural production has increased drastically as a result of productivity growth instead expansion in area. In this scenario the use of Precision Agriculture (PA) in the farm management, considering the spatial variability for maximizing economic return and minimizing the risk of damage to the environment can be decisive. However, the adoption of PA by Brazilian producers iss occurring at a slower rate than the production increasing. Understanding the factors that influence the adoption of AP can be decisive to devise strategies that will enable it dissemination by Brazilian agribusiness. This paper provides a brief overview of selected agricultural regions in Brazil and the main features of the farms surveyed, summarizing the main results of the survey and examining particular features of the precision agriculture adoption and use in Brazil. The survey was conducted through applying a questionnaire to 301 land owners and managers in the Brazilian localities of traditional agriculture region as: Cascavel,PR; Não me Toque, RS, Patos de Minas, MG e Rio Verde, GO and the latest agriculture frontier as Balsas, MA; Bom Jesus, PI; Campo Verde, MT; Luís Eduardo Magalhães, BA; Maracaju, MS. The results indicated that the profile of the owners and property managers who adopt the AP is young, educated, more likely to use technology and informatics and cultivate large land areas. The average time of PA technologies use is 4 years. The properties in which the PA is being used tend to be higher than the traditional ones, indicating that the larger production scales favor the adoption of PA technologies. The main agricultural products cultivated with PA tools are soybeans and corn, followed by wheat and beans. The properties that use PA have equipment, but are underused. The most common equipment in the farms is the navigation systems like light bar and auto guidance, and variable rate for both fertilizer and seed. The main activities in which PA is use are in the supplying of soil amendments/fertilizer and harvest. Most of the PA activity is performed by a third party using farmer’s or rental equipment. The soil sampling grid used ranges from one samples for each 3 to 5 ha. The main sources of information producers have been consultants, courses and training programs, and agricultural fairs and exhibitions. There is a perception that the AP adoption can increase productivity, economic returns, and product quality and reduce the negative environmental impact.
 
Keyword: adoption factors, PA tools, farmers