Expansion of Agricultural Irrigation in the State of Bahia, Brazil, from 1985 to 2023

Climate change has caused various impacts on our planet, presenting an escalating challenge that threatens water and food security, as it directly affects agriculture and livestock production, sectors highly vulnerable to these changes. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt strategies that promote the safe advancement of agriculture. Irrigated agriculture is vital for addressing issues arising from water scarcity, utilizing diverse technologies and methods. In Brazil and worldwide, this practice accounts for the majority of water consumption. In addition to ensuring agricultural production, irrigation significantly contributes to the economic development of these sectors, mitigating the impacts of climate variability. This study focused on analyzing the expansion of irrigated areas in the Brazilian state of Bahia from 1985 to 2023, utilizing irrigation data from MapBiomas Collection 9. The results indicated a significant increase in irrigated area, reflecting the growth and development of agricultural production in the state, with a temporal variation of 90% over the analyzed period. There was a 97% increase in irrigation using center pivots and an 83% increase in the use of other irrigation systems. The substantial rise in the adoption of irrigation techniques is attributed to the expansion of agricultural areas. In conclusion, there is clear evidence of the growth of agricultural production areas in the state, leading to the expansion of irrigation techniques and increased water demand. While irrigation offers benefits, its implementation requires rigorous oversight by responsible authorities due to high water consumption and associated losses. Therefore, it is essential to monitor irrigation systems to maximize their efficiency while minimizing losses from evaporation, leaching, and other adverse impacts.