Climate change and irrigation expansion in Northwest Minas Gerais, Brazil: the need for hydroclimatic monitoring

The Northwest Minas Gerais is a significant grain-producing region in Brazil. Center pivot irrigation in the region increased by 84% from 2010 to 2020, and records of conflicts over water use have occurred since 2000. This study carries out a hydroclimatic analysis of water resources in the Northwest Minas Gerais, using orbital and field data related to 567 pivots, considering the expansion of the irrigated area in the region over the years, the rainfall regime, and the flow of rivers. The time series of precipitation from 1982 to 2022 and river flows from 1978 to 2015 show a significant decrease in rainfall of up to 14.4% since 2012 and a reduction in river flow in all sub-basins analyzed. Furthermore, there was a 99.4% growth in irrigated areas in the last ten years. Due to this scenario, using outdated information to define water allocation rights can escalate conflicts in the use of water resources in the Northwest Minas Gerais region. The results show the need to implement sustainable and contemporary water use management in the Northwest Minas Gerais region. Implementing effective policies, advocating the efficient use of water in agriculture, and promoting collaboration between various sectors are vital to facing current and future challenges.