A farm lobby group, CNA, says agriculture and agribusinesses accounted for 23.5 percent of Brazilian gross domestic product in the first 10 months of this year, the most for 13 years, Reuters reports.

The news agency quotes a written statement issued by CNA as saying: “Despite a turbulent year for the economy and politics in Brazil, agribusiness has contributed to help the country overcome the crisis.”

CNA says the value of exports of agribusiness products was US$82 billion in the first 10 months of this year, 12.2 percent more than in the equivalent period last year, accounting for 45 percent of Brazilian exports so far this year.

Employment in growing crops and animal husbandry has grown so far this year, unlike employment in every other part of the Brazilian economy, Reuters quotes CNA as saying.