CNA debates partnerships in irrigation and hydroagricultural projects

The National Irrigation Commission of the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA) discussed partnerships in irrigation and hydro-agricultural projects during a virtual meeting held on Thursday (07/07).

The topic was addressed by the director of Partnerships with the Private Sector and Sustainability of the Ministry of Regional Development (MDR), Paulo Alexandre de Toledo Alves. He gave a presentation on Expression of Interest Procedures (PMIs) for Irrigation and Hydroagricultural Partnerships of the National Department of Works Against Droughts (DNOCS).

Alves spoke about the concessions for irrigation projects and the five partnerships for irrigated perimeters, managed by DNOCS, which are being structured: Baixo Acaraú (CE), Chapada do Apodi (RN), Platôs de Guadalupe (PI), Tabuleiros Litorâneos (PI ) and Tabuleiros São Bernardo (MA).

The MDR director also highlighted the deadlines for the PMIs – 20 days after the publication of the notice in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) for submission of the Authorization Request and 90 days after the publication of the Authorization Term for the preparation of the Studies – and the main rules.

“It is a very important initiative that will allow the use of areas that are blocked by bureaucratic issues and that could be granted to the private sector to produce and develop the regions”, stated the president of the CNA National Irrigation Commission, David Schmidt.

The Commission's technical advisor, Jordana Girardello, provided participants with guidance on re-registration with the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel). According to her, the CNA sent two letters to the Agency requesting explanations about the registration update, renewal of environmental license and granting of the right to use water resources, in addition to questioning the retroactive charge in case of non-regularization of documentation.

David Schmidt also highlighted the request from the CNA National Irrigation Commission for irrigation coordination within the MDR to become a secretariat, maintaining the public policy part for irrigation with the Ministry of Agriculture.