The export of melons from Goi\u00e1s to Argentina is now a reality. The first shipment, totaling 20 tonnes, departed from a 10-hectare area in Porangatu, northern Goi\u00e1s. This inaugural export marks the debut of melons from Goi\u00e1s on the international market, reinforcing the presence of cucurbits produced in the state in global trade.<\/p>\n
The achievement was made possible through a partnership between the Goi\u00e1s Agricultural Defense Agency (Agrodefesa), Brazil\u2019s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), farmers, and technical supervisors, ensuring that production met international phytosanitary requirements.<\/p>\n
Monitoring<\/strong><\/p>\n So far this year, Agrodefesa has monitored 40 cucurbit farms in Goi\u00e1s with export potential. These include 37 watermelon farms, two pumpkin farms, and one melon farm, totaling 492 hectares across the municipalities of Carmo do Rio Verde, Itapuranga, Jaragu\u00e1, Porangatu, and Uruana. Estimated production amounts to 33,500 tonnes: 30,410 tonnes of watermelon, 2,590 tonnes of pumpkin, and 500 tonnes of melon.<\/p>\n According to Agrodefesa president Jos\u00e9 Ricardo Caixeta Ramos, the advance of Goi\u00e1s\u2019 fruit sector in foreign trade reinforces the credibility of the state\u2019s agricultural defense work. Control stages<\/strong><\/p>\n The export process requires strict monitoring for fruit flies (Anastrepha grandis<\/em>), conducted by licensed technical supervisors and overseen by Agrodefesa. State inspectors register farms, monitor production cycles, oversee shipments, issue plant transit permits, and seal cargo.<\/p>\n At the border, a federal auditor from Mapa conducts a final check and issues the Phytosanitary Export Certificate, which guarantees entry of the product into the importing country.<\/p>\n Agrodefesa\u2019s Plant Health Manager, Leonardo Macedo, stressed that this technical oversight is crucial to opening doors abroad. M\u00e1rio S\u00e9rgio de Oliveira, coordinator of Agrodefesa\u2019s Risk Mitigation System (SMR) program for cucurbits, explained that SMR measures are essential for exports. Enio Gomes Gontijo J\u00fanior, the technical supervisor of the Porangatu melon farm, emphasized the collective nature of the effort. Market expansion<\/strong><\/p>\n With melons now part of Goi\u00e1s\u2019 export portfolio, the state is broadening its international presence in cucurbits, which already includes watermelon and pumpkin. The expectation is that Porangatu\u2019s melon production will follow the same path, carving out space in global markets with Agrodefesa\u2019s phytosanitary guarantee.<\/p>\n For Gontijo J\u00fanior, melons complement Goi\u00e1s\u2019 growing cucurbit exports.
\u201cThe Government of Goi\u00e1s, through Agrodefesa, ensures our products reach international markets with quality, traceability, and safety. This collective effort expands the presence of Goi\u00e1s fruits abroad and strengthens the state\u2019s economy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach harvest strengthens international confidence in Goi\u00e1s\u2019 agricultural defense. This is the key factor that gives competitiveness to fruits produced in the state,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMonitoring begins in the field with sample collection and weekly inspections. Only after confirming no fruit fly occurrence does a farm receive authorization to export. This guarantees traceability and phytosanitary security until the final destination,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about producing a healthy fruit, but about strengthening the entire production system to meet international requirements. We had to choose the right area, ensure the climate was suitable, plant at the right time, and harvest exactly when the buyer demanded. The technical supervisor is the link between producer, Agrodefesa, and the market, which gives us the confidence to move forward,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already have several new areas interested in becoming certified under SMR to expand sales abroad, especially for watermelon, followed by pumpkin, and now melon. With Argentina\u2019s improved economic outlook, opportunities to export quality fruit have grown, encouraging more producers to prepare for this market,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n