‎Brazil News

An initiative to promote sustainable development and increase agricultural productivity through irrigation in the Northeast, northern Minas Gerais and northern Espírito Santo. This is what the Program for the Promotion of Irrigated Agriculture in the Northeast (Profinor) foresees, launched this Thursday (29th), by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Tereza Cristina, and by Banco do Nordeste, which will be one of the main program credit agents.

 

Profinor's objective is to offer rural entrepreneurs who work with irrigation in the region affordable terms and rates for financing actions that seek innovation and environmental sustainability.

 

"I put it as a mission in the Ministry of Agriculture to make a strong policy, to offer the Northeast the same conditions as agricultural production in the Center-South," said Minister Tereza Cristina.

 

The minister highlighted the potential of the Northeast region for irrigated agriculture. “The Northeast has enormous agricultural potential, but it is limited by its water difficulties. Historically, this region has suffered a lot from these problems that also affect the north of the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, harming the rural producers in these regions, especially those small and medium producers, whose resources are scarce. ”

 

Even with all the difficulties, according to Banco do Nordeste, the northeastern region today accounts for 26% of the entire irrigated area in Brazil. It is also responsible for 80% of all fresh fruit produced in the country.

 

Expansion of irrigable rural area

With the program, the Federal Government wants to strengthen irrigated agriculture in the region, using the instruments provided for in the National Irrigation Policy and, thus, expand the supply of food and rural jobs and encourage the use of alternative energies.

 

“From the credit line created by Banco do Nordeste, small and medium-sized rural producers in the region will now be able to have easier access to resources for the implementation or expansion of irrigation and drainage projects, as well as the technical assistance necessary for their projects are economically viable and environmentally sustainable ”, stressed the minister.

 

And she commented that, according to the National Water Agency (ANA), a simple improvement in the management of Brazilian water resources could result, in the short and medium term, in the expansion of the irrigable rural area.

 

"In addition to promoting considerable gains in productivity, irrigated agriculture is an important tool for reducing climate risks that can seriously compromise the investments of rural producers," concluded the minister.

 

Profinor's Goals

- Financing of R $ 900 million only for irrigation between 2021 and 2024;

 

- Land regularization of 150 thousand properties;

 

- Increase of 80 thousand hectares irrigated between 2021 and 2024; and

 

- Conversion of 8 thousand hectares through the financing of the new irrigation system.

 

National Irrigation Policy

 

The National Irrigation Policy aims to encourage the expansion of the irrigated area; increase sustainable productivity; and to reduce the climatic risks inherent to agricultural activity, especially in regions subject to low or irregular rainfall distribution. Another objective is to promote local and regional development, with priority for regions with low social and economic indicators.

 

As provided by the law, public and private irrigation projects to be implemented may receive tax incentives, according to the regions with the lowest social and economic development indicators.

 

The rural credit will favor the acquisition of irrigation equipment more efficient in the use of water resources and the technological modernization of the equipment in use.