Vão do Paranã Irrigated Fruit Farming Project receives investment of R$ 11 million

The Vão do Paranã Irrigated Fruit Farming Project, in the Northeast of Goiás, gained new momentum through the work of the São Francisco and Parnaíba Valleys Development Company (Codevasf). Family farmers in the region are benefiting from the company with localized drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation systems for the production of fruits such as mango and passion fruit. The initiative is helping to transform the economic reality of one of the least developed regions of the state. The investment is in the order of R$11 million. 

“Farmers are the protagonists of this process of regional development and expansion of irrigated agriculture. Codevasf and partner institutions have worked to provide the necessary support for producers in Vão do Paranã to develop their activities in a sustainable way and to be agents of development in the state of Goiás. The irrigation structure offered to farmers allows them to produce more and better , with rational and efficient use of water. The result is the generation of jobs and income and the expansion of food production for the country”, says Marcelo Moreira, CEO of Codevasf.

The actions began with a pilot project that benefited 10 family farming families in Flores de Goiás. The resources were used in localized micro-sprinkler irrigation systems for mango cultivation and in drip and espalier systems (for the cultivation of climbing species ) for passion fruit cultivation. Each beneficiary receives R$40 for the irrigation system, and another R$25 for the espalier system, totaling R$65. The expectation is that around 300 producers will be served by next year. In addition to Flores de Goiás, the actions will also serve the municipalities of Formosa and São João d'Aliança.

“Thanks to our 50 years of experience with the implementation of successful irrigated projects in the São Francisco Valley, we believe that we can help to gradually promote irrigated fruit growing in other regions where we operate and which also have a great agricultural vocation. We are confident that we will overcome the challenges and make irrigated fruit growing viable in Goiás, transforming one of the most deprived regions in the state into a major fruit producer”, highlights the director of the Irrigation Enterprise Management Area at Codevasf, Luís Napoleão Casado.

In addition to investments in localized irrigation systems and espaliers, Codevasf decentralized resources in the order of R$2 million to Embrapa Cerrados to carry out socioeconomic and environmental monitoring of the action; develop strategies for irrigation management; promote communication, training and technology transfer actions and create an application to assist farmers in irrigation management.

Harvesting the first fruits

Some producers are already harvesting their first passion fruit harvest. Planting took place in October last year. Productivity expectations are between 25 and 30 tons per hectare, which can generate revenues of R$150 to R$200 per hectare.

Vanderley Gomes Jorge is one of the producers who benefited from the Company's investments in Flores de Goiás. Before participating in the pilot project, he and his wife planted vegetables and sold their production through the Food Acquisition Program (PAA) and the National School Feeding Program (Pnae), from the federal government. Like other farmers, he decided to focus on fruit production. “My wife and I planted 1.333 passion fruit trees and 425 mango trees. Now, we are looking forward to the first passion fruit harvest,” he explains. The farmer plans to increase passion fruit planting in the future, as, according to him, “the income is quick and much better than vegetables”.

Farmer Luciana Sousa dos Santos also participates in the pilot project by planting mango and passion fruit. “Passion fruit produces faster. The sleeve takes longer. It takes about three years to start producing. Passion fruit comes first to cover input and labor costs,” she explains. She is also excited about the harvest. “I’m already starting to reap the rewards. We’ve even taken courses to use the surplus fruit that doesn’t go to market to produce jam, paste sweets and cut sweets”, she celebrates.

To carry out the project, Codevasf has a partnership with the State Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Seapa/GO), the Goiana Agency for Technical Assistance, Rural Extension and Agricultural Research (Emater), the National Rural Learning Service ( Senar), the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and with the city halls of the municipalities of Flores de Goiás, Formosa and São João d'Aliança.