Rio Grande do Sul’s agriculture sector prepares recovery plan

Through coordination between research teams from nine Embrapa Units and representatives from 25 institutions linked to Rio Grande do Sul's agriculture and livestock sector, a recovery plan for Rio Grande do Sul (RS) is being drawn up, prioritizing actions in the state's large river basins, initially in the Taquari-Antas river basin, in the northeast region of Rio Grande do Sul. The definitions are the result of the Recupera Rural RS Workshop, promoted by the Superintendence of Agriculture and Livestock in RS, Embrapa and Emater/RS.

Divided according to physiographic regions, the proposal is to work on actions in the Campos de Cima da Serra, on the Upper Northeast Slope and Lower Northeast Slope, in the Taquari-Antas Basin; and in the Central Depression, in the Lower Jacuí Basin. "First, because this was one of, if not the most severely affected river basin. And also because we want to work on the entire River Basin, since this problem did not occur only in the lower parts, but began in the headwaters of the Basin", explains Ernestino Guarino, coordinator of Recupera Rural RS - an action plan led by Embrapa.

Within three months, the entities that will coordinate efforts in each region must be defined, and they will also be responsible for coordinating with local partners. Training of technicians and farmers is expected to begin within six months, in parallel with the installation of Technological Reference Units (URTs), which will take into account the specific needs of each area. 

"We have limited operational capacity and resources, so we chose to have a pilot project. This does not exclude actions in other locations, through partnerships. Everything we will do is scalable to other areas, because these situations are repeated in other river basins in a similar way. It is a strategy to gain scale over time and not do everything at the same time, which would not be possible", he adds.

After one year, the plan also foresees efforts to subsidize new public policies, considering the need to redesign systems in order to adapt to climate change. The strategy considers the problems identified in the diagnoses of the affected areas and, at this time, the technologies already produced by Embrapa and other research institutions. "The idea is to think of agrifood systems that are more resilient to this type of situation, even if we somehow have to modify or adapt them to the new climate situation," he explains.

The definitions are based on a damage diagnosis prepared by Embrapa based on four technical visits to the main affected regions, carried out with support from Emater/RS, as well as data from a report also presented by Emater/RS in early July and surveys by other institutions. The proposed schedule and actions must still be agreed upon with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) and state executive bodies. "The proposal will also undergo constant adjustments, because we depend on what will actually happen, mainly based on suggestions from partners," concludes Guarino.

Dynamics

The results were developed based on team dynamics over three days of work. The first day presented the research and technology transfer actions and interfaces of the seven Embrapa Units that make up the "Southern Collaborative Platform for Mitigating Adverse Climate Effects in Agriculture". Other Units from different regions of the country, but with research activities linked to the Platform's theme, also participated.

On Wednesday (23), the moment was to listen to the actions, capabilities and needs of 25 institutions and entities that, in some way, could collaborate with the rural recovery plan of Rio Grande do Sul. On the last day, Embrapa teams, together with representatives from Emater/RS, met again to prepare a targeted proposal, seeking to avoid overlaps and coordinate efforts. This plan was discussed again in the afternoon, with the presence of representatives from eleven institutions.

Opening Ceremony

On the 23rd, the workshop was officially opened to the general public, with speeches by the Executive Director of Research and Development (DEPD), Clenio Pillon; the Platform Coordinator, Ernestino Guarino; the President of Emater/RS, Luciano Schwerz; and the Superintendent of Mapa in RS, José Cleber Dias de Souza. "We need to work, talk, listen to people and make Embrapa and the Platform available to society", said Guarino in his welcome speech.

For Pillon, who participated online, the moment was one of bringing together skills and aligning expectations based on the diagnosis presented. "We are encouraged to be here together, hand in hand, to contribute to this process of restoring our State, looking at and valuing the possibilities, skills and capabilities already in place, which are not few," he said. 

Schwerz, president of Emater/RS, highlighted the need for collective discussion of new strategies and dissemination tools to raise awareness about the need for profitability with sustainability in production systems. "Our main goal is to ensure that the knowledge generated by research can reach farmers quickly and objectively, so that more people can understand and adopt good agricultural practices, which lead to better management and conservation of soil and water," he said.

Finally, the MAPA superintendent recalled the impact of climate crises on agriculture in Rio Grande do Sul in recent years, intensified by the recent situation, reinforcing the need for adjustments in public policies related to agriculture, in order to induce and stimulate the adoption of certain adapted technologies. José Cleber also addressed the importance of, in addition to recovering, preparing agricultural production for the future, in a context of mitigating climate change.

"Federal institutions have a relevant contribution, we participate in this process, but we cannot address this context on our own. Therefore, the invitation is for each entity to present the information and data it has collected; its analyses and reflections; and what it is proposing. But also to learn in a structured and as complete way as possible, what diagnoses and proposals each entity has, whether from the public authorities or representing farmers, and how we can integrate and coordinate actions", he concluded.