The São Francisco and Parnaíba Valleys Development Company (Codevasf) plans to double the irrigated area in Brazil's semi-arid region. Currently managing 125,000 hectares, Codevasf aims to expand this area to 250,000 hectares within the next five to eight years. Most of its current and planned projects are located in the states of Bahia and Pernambuco.
The expansion will target key areas such as Baixio de Irecê (Bahia) with 50,000 hectares, Iuiú (Bahia) with 25,000 hectares, and Santa Brígida (Bahia) with 10,000 hectares, among others. According to Marcelo Moreira, president of Codevasf, this development could generate up to 335,000 jobs by bringing an additional 118,000 hectares into production.
Of the 39 irrigation projects under Codevasf, 25 are financially autonomous, with producers funding their own water supply. Others, such as the Itaparica System, remain dependent on federal subsidies due to their social role, though they face challenges from limited parliamentary backing. The rising value of crops like grapes helped boost the region's gross agricultural production value from approximately US$1.14 billion in 2023 to US$1.63 billion in 2024.
The Senador Nilo Coelho Irrigation Project in Petrolina (Pernambuco) and Casa Nova (Bahia) is a standout contributor, accounting for US$901 million in production value alone. Despite the sector's economic significance, direct investment in irrigation remains relatively low. In 2023, just US$25.6 million was allocated to irrigation efforts from a total federal budget of US$398 million, much of which was directed toward politically strategic initiatives.
Petrolina (PE) and Juazeiro (BA) are at the heart of Codevasf's regional impact, serving as major hubs for fruit exports produced in irrigated zones.
Source: Abrafrutas