Silvio Ávila
74
under
Hope
Study on theUrucuia
Aquifer gives rise
to expectations for
significant expansions
of the irrigated area in
WesternBahia
The hope for a more representative use of water for irri-
gation in Western Bahia lies under the Cerrado soil. An un-
derground geological formation, with
big lakes, which includes six states in the
Northeast, Southeast, North and Center-
West (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Tocantins, Piauí,
Maranhão and Goiás) and encircles around
60% of their 142 thousand square kilome-
ters inWesternBahia, is the target of a thor-
ough study that is supposed to determine
its potential. Another analysis will be fo-
cused on the water available in the rivers
throughout the region (Grande and Corrente), coming from
the same aquifer and feed the São Francisco River.
Region
accommodates
around60%of
thegeological
reserves
The study, funded by the Agriculture Devel-
opment Program (Prodeagro), of the region’s
producers, encompassing several organisms,
started in 2017, with its conclusion scheduled
for late 2018 or early 2019. It involves research-
ersfromtheFederalUniversitiesofViçosa(UFV),
in Minas Gerais, and Nebraska, in the United
States, global reference in the sector. It compris-
es the Bahia Association of Farmers and Irriga-
tors(Aiba),aswellastheRuralProducers’Union
of Luís Eduardo Magalhães (SPRLEM) and,
equally, state secretariats (of Agriculture, Envi-
ronment andWater Infrastructure).
CelestinoZanella, president of theAibaand
the ground
