The northeast region of Goiás, known as Vão do Paranã, is undergoing a significant transformation in socioeconomic development through the "Irrigated Fruit Farming of Vão do Paranã" project. This initiative, spearheaded by the State Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Goiás (Seapa/GO) in collaboration with Embrapa Cerrados and other partners, aims to enhance fruit production, specifically mango and passion fruit, for 2,500 agrarian reform families across Flores de Goiás, Formosa, and São João d'Aliança. These areas benefit from the Paranã River and Ribeirão Porteira dams.
Contributors to the project include the São Francisco and Parnaíba Valley Development Company (Codevasf), Emater, Senar, and municipal governments. Beneficiary farmers are provided with irrigation kits and espaliers for passion fruit cultivation, with each farm receiving systems for irrigating 1 hectare of mango and passion fruit each. While the farmers are responsible for the costs of seedlings, inputs, and labor, they have the option to finance these expenses through banking institutions.
Initially, 10 families have been included, with an additional 138 set to receive kits in 2024. The project targets an area of 296 hectares, anticipating the annual production of approximately 4,200 tons of passion fruit and 6,000 tons of mangoes. Support for the project includes training by Embrapa Cerrados and assistance in irrigation management to ensure the efficient use of resources.
For Embrapa Cerrados, this project is pivotal in enhancing the quality of life in the region, with potential replication across Brazil. The initiative not only focuses on agricultural productivity but also on sustainable practices and economic development.
Source: abrafrutas.org