Resource information
The aim for this study was to assess the
impact of irrigation activities in the Brazilian Semi-Arid
(BSA) Region, and to analyze to what extent irrigated
agriculture in this region has contributed to the reduction
of poverty levels and regional inequalities, income growth
and distribution, and the creation of quality jobs, with the
aim of contributing to the establishment of guidelines for a
regional development strategy. The study indicates that,
overall, public investment in irrigated agriculture could be
an effective strategy for boosting regional development,
increasing exports and alleviating poverty in the BSA. The
necessary dynamics for this are mainly: an abundant and
reliable water supply, well-designed projects, competent
project management, strong political support, timely
financing and implementation, titled land parcels, practical
urban support, adequate transport infrastructure,
industrious farmers, participation of entrepreneurial
producers, effective technological support, and, skilled
marketing. The analysis also showed that: a) It takes about
10 to 15 years for public schemes to show positive results
in a well-planned project and, b) the engineering component
is the easiest part of a project: the most difficult is
ensuring the farmers' successful participation in a
sound, sustainable production, and marketing scheme. Some
key recommendations being proposed include the promotion of
irrigated agriculture as a key strategy for regional
development, and poverty alleviation in the BSA, followed by
complete, and upgraded schemes, before embarking on new
public irrigation projects. To this end, the private sector
should participate in the development of irrigation in the
BSA, supported by a legal and institutional framework, to
achieve an expansion of public and private schemes, based on
sound market studies, to avoid overproduction.
