Rainwater harvesting and supplemental irrigation for cotton cultivation in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract The North of Minas Gerais, a large inland state in southeastern Brazil, is going through the worst drought of the last 80 years, only compared with the drought that occurred in the 1930s, when there was general devastation in the agricultural and livestock sector. Nevertheless, the cotton crop continues to stand out in the region as one of the few agricultural alternatives capable of generating income and employment due to its characteristic resistance to the effects of drought, which is not the case with other traditional crops. To this end, the Cooperativa dos Produtores Rurais de Catuti Ltda ‐ COOPERCAT (Cooperative of Rural Producers of Catuti) installed eight “Demonstration Units” (DUs) of cotton under supplemental irrigation through rainwater capture in the municipalities of Catuti, Mato Verde, Monte Azul, and Pai Pedro. This study aims to demonstrate that the adaptation of cotton production systems through the “Supplemental Irrigation” method in critical periods provides and guarantees family farmers sustainable cotton production and, on the other hand, to evaluate a production model suitable to the climatic reality of Northern Minas. Since the implementation of this technology, cotton fiber production has increased by 72% from 2015 to date in a 19% smaller area, and total cotton production increased by 58%. As of 2022, cotton producers continue to use this supplemental irrigation methodology, demonstrating that the technology is viable, impacts cotton production, and is effective as a resilience measure to climate change and drought. In addition, this technology proves to be in line with Brazilian public policies, adds value to cotton production, addresses food security, and acts as a model for irrigation initiatives in Minas Gerais and other areas of Brazil.