Sustentabilidade técnico-econômica de cultivos irrigados no projeto de irrigação Curu Pentecoste, CE

Abstract

The study was conducted in the Curu Pentecoste Irrigation Project (PICP), located in the state of Ceará, Brazil, with the overall objective of assessing the sustainability of the main irrigated crops developed in the area from both technical and economic perspectives. The specific objectives were to analyze the Relative Irrigation Supply (RIS) indicator; evaluate the performance of irrigation systems; assess the quality of shallow well water for irrigation purposes; and analyze socioeconomic indicators associated with the main irrigated crops. For the calculation of RIS, monthly data were collected on the volume of water supplied through flow meters installed at the headworks of the areas, as well as on crop water demand. The evaluation of irrigation systems was carried out based on the Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC), the Statistical Uniformity Coefficient (SUC), and the Distribution Uniformity Coefficient (DUC). The technical and economic analysis was based on annual production data from irrigating farmers, considering fixed and variable costs, which enabled the calculation of Added Value (AV), Farmers’ Income (FI), and the Social Reproduction Level (SRL). The RIS indicated an excess of applied water in all analyzed areas, directly related to the irrigation practices adopted by farmers, exacerbated by the lack of technical assistance and by the ongoing transition from furrow irrigation systems to localized irrigation systems, specifically micro-sprinkler irrigation. The irrigation systems showed satisfactory technical performance in terms of uniformity; however, operational problems were identified. Irrigation water productivity was higher when production was intended for the commercialization of coconut water through contractual arrangements. Irrigation water quality indicated suitable conditions for agricultural use, with no restrictions related to soil salinity or sodicity risks. Socioeconomic indicators demonstrated that scenarios with financing exhibited superior performance compared to scenarios without financing.