Campina Grande – In March next year, Arab countries will be able to become more closely acquainted with the reality of the Brazilian semi-arid, a region where the caatinga biome prevails, characterized by long droughts and short rainy seasons. The National Semi-Arid Institute (Insa), which is linked to the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology, is preparing a course to show Arab heads of state Brazilian experiences in good coexistence with the dry weather region.
The information was supplied by the director of the Insa, Roberto Germano Costa, who is running a workshop on the semi-arid for journalists on Monday (13th) and Tuesday (14th) in Campina Grande, in the state of Paraíba. According to Costa, the Insa, alongside the National Institute of Waters (ANA), is currently considering the experiences that it will show to the Arabs in March. The course should be taught in Campina Grande, where the Insa headquarters are being built.
Just as Brazil has its semi-arid regions, the Arab world has its arid regions, and it is promoting efforts to develop agriculture and cattle breeding in these not-so-favourable terrains. The course in Campina Grande will be held as part of the actions of the Summit of Arab and South American Countries (Aspa), a series of meetings of heads of state from the two regions aiming to establish closer ties between its countries, in all spheres.
The Insa was chosen by the Aspa, during its last International Conference: Climate, Sustainability and Development of Semi-Arid Regions (Icid), held in August in Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará, to discuss matters pertaining to arid and semi-arid climate with the Arab world. "We are devising a training course to present innovative experiences in arid and semi-arid regions," explains Germano.
The Insa is a research unit of the Ministry of Science and Technology and deals with all matters pertaining to the semi-arid, ranging from agriculture and livestock in the region to the development of other activities, such as handicraft and education.
In Brazil, the semi-arid climate encompasses ten states, some to a greater extent than others: Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão, totalling 1,162 municipalities. The main feature of the region is the caatinga biome, which covers 800,000 square kilometres and exists only in Brazil. Worldwide, the arid and semi-arid climates account for 42% of the total area and have over 2 billion inhabitants, according to data supplied by Germano.
The Insa, which was established in 2004 but started functioning only in 2007, when its first director assumed office, calls for a harmonious coexistence of the local population with the semi-arid. "The caatinga is characterized by a long drought season and a very short rainy season. There is no way of altering this reality, so you must live with it and make use of it," says the director of the Insa. The institute works for that purpose, presenting ways for the local population to live better with the short rainy seasons.
The Insa is also working to change the stereotypical view of the region, usually remembered for its poverty and drought. "There is poverty here, as there is poverty in other regions, but we also have pockets of wealth," said Germano during a workshop for journalists. In order to better depict the reality of the semi-arid, the Insa has created a news agency, which will operate starting on Thursday (14th), called Agência de Notícias do Semiárido Brasileiro (News Agency of the Brazilian Semi-Arid – SAB). The aim is to provide journalists and researchers with information on the region.
*The journalist travelled by invitation of the Insa. Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
