Programas públicos e disponibilidade de água na região doPlanalto, Município de Montes Claros MG

Abstract

This work aimed to research the situation of water and its public programs in the rural communities of Planalto, in the city of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, based on information provided by family farmers, members of Associação de Produtores Hortifrutigranjeiros da Região do Pentáurea (ASPROHPEN) (Association of Fruit and vegetable Producers from the region of Pentáurea). The methodology used was the case study having as investigation tool the interview with semi-structured questionnaire. Twelve per cent (12%) of the ASPROHPEN families were interviewed from pre-established criteria and the water programs and project managers were also identified. As a result, it was noticed that the water sources used by the families to be used at their houses and their production come from artesian wells, rivers, water springs and reservoirs. It could be noticed clearly that the water from artesian wells isused mainly for domestic use and the water from rivers and springs is used for agricultural production. With that, the estimated domestic daily average water use was 101.93 liters/day/person; yet the average production use based mainly on the irrigation system, was estimated in 14,997 liters/day/ha. These values were elevated when compared to other regions in the semi-arid region of the State of Minas Gerais. However, interventions focused on hydric supply and sustainable use in the region were identified such as: the Artesian Well Program, which caters for the majority of interviewed families; followed by Barraginhas program, Mandala Project and Ecocrédito Program. It may be concluded that the rural communities of Planalto have a significant availabilityof water, something which was not found in other locations of the semi-arid region in the north of Minas Gerais. However, there are also risks in this situation, reflected in the identification of several programs, aiming the improvement of water supply and conservation in these communities.