Goiás state ships first melons to Argentina after phytosanitary approval

The export of melons from Goiás to Argentina is now a reality. The first shipment, totaling 20 tonnes, departed from a 10-hectare area in Porangatu, northern Goiás. This inaugural export marks the debut of melons from Goiás on the international market, reinforcing the presence of cucurbits produced in the state in global trade.

The achievement was made possible through a partnership between the Goiás Agricultural Defense Agency (Agrodefesa), Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), farmers, and technical supervisors, ensuring that production met international phytosanitary requirements.

Monitoring

So far this year, Agrodefesa has monitored 40 cucurbit farms in Goiás 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, Jaraguá, 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.

According to Agrodefesa president José Ricardo Caixeta Ramos, the advance of Goiás’ fruit sector in foreign trade reinforces the credibility of the state’s agricultural defense work.
“The Government of Goiás, through Agrodefesa, ensures our products reach international markets with quality, traceability, and safety. This collective effort expands the presence of Goiás fruits abroad and strengthens the state’s economy,” he said.

Control stages

The export process requires strict monitoring for fruit flies (Anastrepha grandis), 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.

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.

Agrodefesa’s Plant Health Manager, Leonardo Macedo, stressed that this technical oversight is crucial to opening doors abroad.
“Each harvest strengthens international confidence in Goiás’ agricultural defense. This is the key factor that gives competitiveness to fruits produced in the state,” he said.

Mário Sérgio de Oliveira, coordinator of Agrodefesa’s Risk Mitigation System (SMR) program for cucurbits, explained that SMR measures are essential for exports.
“Monitoring 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,” he said.

Enio Gomes Gontijo Júnior, the technical supervisor of the Porangatu melon farm, emphasized the collective nature of the effort.
“It’s 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,” he explained.

Market expansion

With melons now part of Goiás’ export portfolio, the state is broadening its international presence in cucurbits, which already includes watermelon and pumpkin. The expectation is that Porangatu’s melon production will follow the same path, carving out space in global markets with Agrodefesa’s phytosanitary guarantee.

For Gontijo Júnior, melons complement Goiás’ growing cucurbit exports.
“We 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’s improved economic outlook, opportunities to export quality fruit have grown, encouraging more producers to prepare for this market,” he added.

Source: Governo de Goiás

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