Sustainable irrigation advances with decree in Minas Gerais

The Minas Gerais State Government has taken an important step toward modernizing and sustaining agricultural production by regulating the State Policy for Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture. The decree, signed on Tuesday (8) by Governor Romeu Zema, details technical, environmental, and administrative guidelines to expand the rational use of irrigation in the field.

The new regulation aims to guarantee water and legal security for producers, as well as boost agricultural productivity without the need to clear new land. "With this decree, it will be possible to harvest up to three crops per year in the same area, generating more income and less pressure for deforestation," the governor stated.

The measure should particularly benefit family farming, promoting water conservation, integration with environmental policies, and strengthening the competitiveness of Minas Gerais' agricultural sector. According to the Department of Agriculture, only 15% of the state's productive area is currently irrigated, a figure expected to increase with regulations and new technologies.

The decree also details the implementation of the State Plan for Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture (PEAIS), defines criteria for certifying irrigation projects, and organizes the use of Environmental and Productive Zoning (ZAP). The regulation recognizes irrigation as a public utility activity and promises to reduce bureaucracy in accessing technologies and financing.

The regulation is integrated into the Irriga Minas program, which plans to deliver 2025 drip irrigation kits in 14 alone, with an investment of R$22 million. Since 2019, R$27 million has been invested in the project, which primarily serves small properties, increasing vegetable and fruit production even in regions with low rainfall.