Although it represents only 8.2% of the fires in the Cerrado biome, behind Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Tocantins, the state of Goiás has intensified fire monitoring in agricultural areas and firefighting measures. In an unprecedented survey by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Seapa), released on Monday (23/9), the ministry estimates that crop losses amount to R$181.71 million between the end of July and September 2024, taking into account seven crops grown in this period (beans, sugarcane, corn, tomatoes, sorghum, potatoes and cotton).
The document is available on the website. Seba It provides an overview that helps in the analysis, indicating the ways in which the authorities are acting. “The situation is more under control in Goiás, despite the bad weather conditions, thanks to measures such as real-time monitoring and rapid response from the Civil Defense,” Governor Ronaldo Caido confirmed at a recent event in Brasilia (DF), to address the problem with the union, which also indicates that the impact on the economy as a whole could reach R$1.5 billion by the end of the year.
According to the government, data for the year to August 2024 show that the productive area burned is approximately 102,000 hectares in the state. In agricultural production, the municipalities most affected are Itumbiara, Quirinopolis, Govilandia, Agua Fria de Goiás and Padre Bernardo. The value is based on the agricultural harvest calendar and relates only to crops from the end of July to the beginning of September. Furthermore, it does not include infrastructure costs, machinery, pastures, recovery costs or replanting. The south of Goiás suffers harvest losses of more than R$46.58 million, or about 25.64% of the total. It is followed by the southwest (24.82%), the areas surrounding the Federal District (13.6%) and the northeast (11.45%).
The President of Seapa, Pedro Leonardo Rezende, stressed the importance of effective measures to combat the outbreak of fires. “The Secretariat has carried out awareness campaigns on the importance of forest fire prevention and has promoted technical studies that illustrate the impact of these fires on the soil and the environment. Furthermore, we have worked in partnership with rural producers and relevant authorities to look for alternatives and strategies to deal with this challenge.
Arrangements
In July of this year, by Decree No. 10,503, Governor Ronaldo Caido suspended the use of fire on vegetation, except in cases expressly authorized by the State Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainable Development (SIMAD). In August, by Decree No. 10,539, a state of emergency was declared in 20 municipalities in Goiás affected by “fires in unprotected areas, with repercussions on air quality.” The document authorizes, for a period of 180 days, an exemption from bidding for the acquisition of materials and the recruitment of personnel. (Siba Consultant)
