Brazil’s Minister of National Integration, Pedro Brito, has announced the launch of a program to reduce waste in irrigation projects.

The program is called "Easy Irrigation" (Irriga Fácil) and was developed in partnership with the Brazilian Farm Research Corporation (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária) (Embrapa).

Farmers that use the program will be able to calculate the exact time and amounts of water they need for irrigating specific crops.

The program is mainly aimed at irrigation projects in the Northeast, especially the São Francisco River valley. The ministry will provide training and technical assistance.

Waterway

Representatives of Brazilian NGOs from all over the country are meeting this week in Porto Velho, in the state of Roraima, to discuss the implications of the installation of what is known as the Madeira River Complex (Complexo do Rio Madeira), on one of the Amazon region’s biggest and most important rivers.

Plans are to build at least two hydroelectric power plants and a commercial waterway for the transportation of agricultural produce, mainly soy. The meeting will also discuss commercial agreements and integration proposals.

ABr