Find out what measures have already been announced by the RS government to combat drought

The State government is working on transversal actions to combat the drought in Rio Grande do Sul. Between emergency measures and permanent policies, efforts to mitigate the drought situation in the State involve different departments and include assistance and support actions for producers, allocation of resources for irrigation and water storage systems and the creation of an online platform for monitoring the water crisis.

On the afternoon of this Thursday (23/2), Governor Eduardo Leite and secretaries of State were in the municipality of Hulha Negra, in Fronteira Oeste, in order to accompany the federal government delegation that came to Rio Grande do Sul to monitor areas affected by drought. In the region visited, the biggest impact was on soybean and corn crops.

Through the Avançar program, the State allocated R$336 million for investments in projects that reduce the impact of the drought in Rio Grande do Sul. The amounts that were not executed in 2022, due to electoral restrictions and the approval of the Recovery Regime Tax, should be undertaken in 2023.

Other emergency initiatives have already been implemented, such as the creation of Emergency Aid – SOS Estiagem for producers, the construction of micro dams and the drilling of wells. Last Friday (17/2), the governor announced the 100% debt amnesty of the Seed Exchange program for family farmers in municipalities in emergency situations. The program, aimed at promoting the cultivation of corn and sorghum, finances the acquisition of seeds for the production of grains or silage.

Demand brought by producers, the debt amnesty for receiving seeds will represent a value of up to R$22,5 million that the State will no longer receive to support the recovery of family farmers in the regions most affected by water restrictions.

For the benefit of producers, also last Friday, the opening of an additional notice for the Forage Seeds program was announced, which allows financing the acquisition of seeds for the formation of pastures. The new membership period is valid until next Tuesday (28/2). 

A meeting held this Thursday (23/2), in Porto Alegre, with the presence of the Chief of Staff, Artur Lemos, and the Secretary of the Environment and Infrastructure, Marjorie Kauffmann, dealt with the accumulation of garbage in rivers in Grande Porto Alegre, a problem that was also highlighted by the drought and the consequent drop in water levels in these places. The meeting established strategies together with municipalities to address the issue of urban solid waste and the expansion of the Watershed Revitalization Program.

Actions implemented

• Artesian wells (with own equipment) – more than 350 drillings since 2021.

• Micro dams – around 200 municipalities benefited, with an investment of approximately R$ 100 thousand in each one, through the Avançar na Agricultura program.

• Irriga Mais – 20 revitalized meteorological stations (R$ 857 thousand).

• SOS Estiagem – R$80,4 million to support family farmers, traditional peoples and communities and agrarian reform settlers. 

Ongoing and future actions

•  Microdams – around R$66,3 million for the construction of microdams in 452 municipalities.

• Artesian wells – R$66,7 million for the construction of artesian wells.

• Cisterns – construction of 660 cisterns (up to three per qualified municipality), with a capacity of 60 thousand liters each. Total investment of R$17,4 million. Resources for eligible municipalities should be made available in the coming weeks.

• Irriga + RS Program – 48 new weather stations and application development (R$ 6,6 million). Purchase of measuring equipment for the decarbonization of agriculture (R$ 5 million).

• Subsidy for irrigation projects – 20% of the project, limited to R$ 15 thousand. Investment of R$20 million.

• Animal feed – execution of the Forage Seeds program (R$ 6,3 million).

• Animal feed – extra notice Forage Seeds Program (R$ 500 thousand).

• Amnesty for the Seed Exchange program (R$ 22,5 million).

• Works on the Jaguari and Taquarembó dams.

• Revitalization of basins and the Gravataí River.

• State well regularization program.

Check out the presentation of the Drought Coping Plan here.