A seca no cotidiano: agricultura familiar e estiagem em comunidades rurais do gerais de Januária, MG

Abstract

The Semiarid region of Minas Gerais experienced a severe drought between 2011 and 2018. In this area of already degraded water sources, scarce and concentrated precipitation contributed to reducing water for domestic and productive use. Considering the great drought as a scenario, this article seeks to understand the daily supply dynamics of rural families and analyze the arrangements made to ensure water supply in two communities of family farmers in the gerais region, vast plateaus of the Upper Middle São Francisco River. It investigated the topic using social research techniques (interviews and focus groups) and environmental research (analysis of sources and consumption) during the dry and rainy seasons over a year. The article reveals that in this "drought season", the existence of public programs to provide water and income ensured sufficient supply for the rural population. However, farmers needed to introduce adjustments and innovations in water management, consumption, and especially agriculture, in order to conserve, even on new bases, production systems and community organization.