The first Irrigated Agriculture Hub of Mato Grosso do Sul had its name and coverage area defined during a technical workshop held this week in the auditorium of Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste, in Dourados. Named the Irrigated Agriculture Hub of the Center-South of Mato Grosso do Sul, it covers 26 municipalities that already have around 80 thousand hectares of irrigated crops.
This will be the 14th Irrigated Agriculture Hub in the country, created and coordinated by the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development. The Hub's launch event was attended by a technical team from the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development, as well as technicians from Embrapa, the Superintendence for the Development of the Central-West (Sudeco), the Agriculture Coordinator of the Secretariat for the Environment, Development, Science, Technology and Innovation (Semadesc), Fernando Nascimento, and farmers who already use or intend to irrigate their crops.
The State Government also launched the State Irrigation Program (MS Irriga) in July of this year. The plan is a driver for the development of technological, strategic and sustainable agriculture, propelling the State towards an inclusive, prosperous, green and digital future, as defined at the time by Semadesc Secretary Jaime Verruck.
By July, the State already had 320.304 hectares of irrigated agriculture, with an increase of 63% between 2015 and 2024. With central pivots alone, 84 thousand hectares (902 pivots) are irrigated in 53 municipalities, with soybean, corn and pasture crops.
With the creation of the Hub, the State and Federal Governments are concentrating their efforts on the municipalities involved to implement the projects, which require, above all, investment, infrastructure and electricity. Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste researcher Denilton Flumignam analyzed the area that comprises the Hub and ensures that there is water security to meet the demand.
He cited figures from experiments conducted by Embrapa demonstrating the importance of irrigation in increasing productivity. Over a three-year period, 172 bags of soybeans were harvested in an area planted by Embrapa with irrigation, while in an equivalent area without irrigation, 134 bags of the same product were produced. The corn yield is even higher: 407 bags with irrigation and 253 bags without irrigation.
The Federal Government is betting on irrigation to boost crop productivity and achieve larger harvests without occupying new areas with agriculture. The director of the Irrigation Department of the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development, Larissa Rego, stated that the country has enormous potential in this perspective: around 55 million hectares suitable for irrigation. Currently, only 8,5 million hectares are irrigated nationwide and Brazil already ranks 6th among countries that use this production technology.
Mato Grosso do Sul has approximately 4,9 million hectares that can receive irrigation, all located in the Paraná River Basin, as explained by Nascimento. Of this total, 2,4 million hectares are classified as highly suitable for irrigation, which places the state in second place nationwide in terms of competitiveness.
The idea is to use the irrigation strategy to increase the potential of crops, both in terms of productivity and capacity, explained the executive director of the State Irrigators Association (AIEMS), Daniele Coelho Marques. Irrigating crops allows for the cultivation of three crops per year. In addition to soybeans and corn, another cultivar with a faster cycle can be used in the fields between these harvests.
The State Government's idea is to encourage the cultivation of products that are imported from neighboring states to supply the domestic market, especially fruits and vegetables. Irrigation allows these varieties to be produced efficiently, with minimal risk of losses and high productivity, making it a very important alternative for small producers.
Studies presented during the workshop show that irrigated agriculture can generate many jobs (the goal is 4,5 million direct and indirect jobs throughout the country), increase the HDI (Human Development Index) of the locality, which translates into better living conditions for families; reduce the rural exodus by allowing young people to remain in the countryside and contribute to responsible management of natural resources and environmental conservation in general, as water is the main input, and it is vital that springs and sources are preserved.
The municipalities that will become part of the Irrigated Agriculture Hub of the Center-South of Mato Grosso do Sul are:
The workshop that formatted the state section of the program lasted all day. In the morning, in addition to presentations with data on the irrigated area of the entire country, potential and goals, the name of the hub, scope and members of the Management Group were chosen. In the afternoon, participants were able to give their opinions on the main demands and strategies to overcome them.
The Irrigated Agriculture Hub of the Center-South of Mato Grosso do Sul has the support of Semadesc, Embrapa and the Irrigators Association.
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