Este estudo teve como objetivo simular a pegada de escassez hídrica (PEH) da irrigação do cacau a ser produzido nos municípios considerados aptos para o cultivo de cacau no estado da Bahia, de acordo com o zoneamento agroclimático. O modelo proposto pela FAO (Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e a Agricultura), foi utilizado para calcular a demanda de irrigação. Posteriormente, o impacto na escassez hídrica foi calculado através do produto entre a demanda de irrigação da cultura e os fatores de caracterização da escassez hídrica do método AWARE regionalizado para o Brasil. A PEH na Bahia variou entre 0,28 e 646,5 m3-eq de água por quilo de cacau produzido. A partir da escala definida, dos 417 municípios baianos aptos para o cultivo de cacau, 59% possui uma PEH ‘baixa’, 18% ‘média’, 10% ‘alta’ e 12% possui uma pegada ‘muito alta’. Com base nestes resultados, sugere-se que as áreas com menor PEH sejam prioritárias na expansão do cacau para evitar um possível comprometimento de outras demandas essenciais dos municípios. Além disso, a irrigação deve evitar desperdícios, principalmente, em regiões com altos índices de escassez de água. Os resultados mostram que a inclusão da PEH em zoneamentos agroclimáticos pode contribuir no processo de identificação de regiões potenciais e críticas para novos cultivos e expansão de outros.
Palavras-chave: agricultura; AWARE; indicador ambiental; zoneamento agroclimático
This study simulated the water scarcity footprint (WSF) of cocoa irrigation in municipalities considered suitable for cocoa growing in the state of Bahia, according to agro climatic zoning. Irrigation demand was calculated using the model proposed by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Subsequently, impact on water scarcity was calculated using the product of crop irrigation demand and water scarcity characterization factors of the regionalized AWARE method for Brazil. The WSF in Bahia ranged between 0.28 and 646.5 m³ of water per kilo of cocoa produced. From the defined scale, of the 417 municipalities in Bahia suitable for growing cocoa, 59% have a 'low' footprint, 18% 'medium', 10% 'high', and 12% have a 'very high' footprint. Based on these results, it is suggested that areas with lower WSF are a priority in the expansion of cocoa to avoid a possible compromise of other essential demands of the municipalities. In addition, irrigation should avoid waste, especially in regions with high levels of water scarcity. The results show that the inclusion of the WSF in agroclimatic zoning can contribute to the process of identifying potential and critical regions for new crops and the expansion of others.
Keywords: agriculture, agroclimatic zoning, AWARE, environmental indicator
This study simulated the water scarcity footprint (WSF) of cocoa irrigation in municipalities considered suitable for cocoa growing in the state of Bahia, according to agro climatic zoning. Irrigation demand was calculated using the model proposed by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Subsequently, impact on water scarcity was calculated using the product of crop irrigation demand and water scarcity characterization factors of the regionalized AWARE method for Brazil. The WSF in Bahia ranged between 0.28 and 646.5 m³ of water per kilo of cocoa produced. From the defined scale, of the 417 municipalities in Bahia suitable for growing cocoa, 59% have a 'low' footprint, 18% 'medium', 10% 'high', and 12% have a 'very high' footprint. Based on these results, it is suggested that areas with lower WSF are a priority in the expansion of cocoa to avoid a possible compromise of other essential demands of the municipalities. In addition, irrigation should avoid waste, especially in regions with high levels of water scarcity. The results show that the inclusion of the WSF in agroclimatic zoning can contribute to the process of identifying potential and critical regions for new crops and the expansion of others.
Keywords: agriculture, agroclimatic zoning, AWARE, environmental indicator
