Northeast will have irrigated agriculture expansion program

Did you know that 100% of national melon production is located in the Northeast of Brazil? And that 80% of exported fruits are grown in this region? These results are largely related to irrigated agriculture, with several of its centers based on the development of this technology.

To stimulate the growth of irrigated agriculture in the Northeast, north of Minas Gerais and north of Espírito Santo, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) and Banco do Nordeste (BNB) launched, this Thursday (29/04) , the Irrigated Agriculture Promotion Program in the Northeast (Profinor).

The program aims to expand the area of ​​irrigated agriculture in the region by 80 thousand hectares by 2024, in addition to modernizing 8 thousand hectares of obsolete irrigation systems.

The promotion of sustainable development will occur through credit to rural producers so that they can install or exchange irrigation equipment for more efficient ones and also install alternative energy systems.  

“Based on the credit line created by BNB, small and medium-sized rural producers in the region will now be able to have easier access to both resources for the implementation or expansion of irrigation and drainage projects, as well as the technical assistance necessary for their projects to be implemented. economically viable and environmentally sustainable”, highlighted Minister Tereza Cristina (Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) in the launch live.

The minister added that Mapa's mission is to offer the Northeast “the same conditions as agricultural production in the Center-South”. “We will combine increases in productivity and diversification of production with increases in the producer’s income and quality of life, in addition to undisputed benefits for the environment.”

Resources

Rural producers and companies in the Northeast Region, the north of Minas Gerais and the north of Espírito Santo that are interested in implementing irrigated agriculture or that need to modernize or expand the irrigation system will be able to count on R$900 million in credit through Profinor . The resources come from the Northeast Constitutional Financing Fund (FNE), BNB Agro Inovação and Pronaf, with interest rates ranging from 4,38% to 4,78% per year, depending on the size of the producer (small, medium and large) and with a performance bonus. The credit will be operated by Banco do Nordeste.

“We have large granaries in the Northeast and we need to make these development hubs dynamic with agricultural production by using new technologies, improving processes and granting grants. May we improve productivity and agribusiness in Brazil by looking at the Northeast”, highlighted the president of BNB, Romildo Rolim.

The items that may be financed by the Program are: acquisition of seeds and seedlings for irrigated crops; implementation of crops under irrigation; acquisition of inputs for irrigated areas; acquisition of irrigation equipment, pumps and water supply systems; construction of dams and dams to accumulate water for irrigation; financing of systems/equipment for managing irrigated agriculture; energy system from alternative and conventional sources; agricultural funding.

For the president of the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA), João Martins, the program meets the desires of producers in the Northeast. “We have very productive land and are able to double the irrigated areas to transform the Northeast into an entrepreneurial and modern region.”

In the case of contracting specific technical assistance for irrigated agriculture, priority will be given to territories defined within AgroNordeste, Mapa's program to leverage production chains in the region. 

Irrigated area

Data from the 2017 Agricultural Census and the National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (ANA) show that the irrigated area in Brazil is approximately 7 million hectares, which corresponds to 3% of the arable area. The global average ratio between irrigated area and rainfed agriculture is 20%, in Brazil this ratio is only 10% of the planted area, or around 8,2 million hectares.

There are 55 million hectares, currently occupied by rainfed agriculture and pastures, suitable for irrigation, according to research by the Luiz de Queiroz Higher School of Agriculture, University of São Paulo – Esalq/USP, in partnership with the Ministry of Development Regional (MDR).

In Profinor, the rural producer, with the support of extension agents, will define which crop he intends to install an irrigation system on. One of the production chains to benefit is fruit, such as mango, grape, banana and citrus crops. The potential for the production of fruits with high added value is great, and there is still room for improvement through soil irrigation, as well as social, economic and environmental development.

“We believe that with science and technology we will change the scenario of the Brazilian Northeast, bringing agricultural wealth. Carry out smart irrigated agriculture taking into account the binomial of production with sustainability”, said the Secretary of Innovation, Rural Development and Irrigation, Fernando Camargo.

The event was attended by the deputy secretary of Innovation, Rural Development and Irrigation and director of AgroNordeste, Cleber Soares; the deputy director of the Department of Sustainable Production and Irrigation, Gustavo Goretti; the deputy executive secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development, Daniel Ferreira, who represented minister Rogério Marinho; and the superintendent of Banco do Nordeste, Luiz Sérgio.