Piauí: the Gilbués desert

When José Rodríguez de Santos Gilbes explored the desert, he was unaware of the ruins that would accompany him for the rest of his life.

To reach the capital Gilbas, he had to walk 20 kilometers from the city and cross Lake Merojo through the desert.

This creates the atmosphere we are accustomed to in science fiction films.

But if you look closely, you can see pockets of vegetation in this swamp.

The local celebrity Zé Kapemba states, “The environment needs warmth, just like people do.”

He spoke about having control over the land and mentioned that he had to travel a lot for work, but admitted that things are better now than they were a few years ago.

“The water resources and technology will improve our lives here,” he said.

“The Gill is one of the four wilderness areas recognized by the federal government in the country, all dry. It is located in the northeast, 805 kilometers or approximately 149 miles from Qating. In Piauí, a large desert area has been destroyed, and 14 municipalities have been affected.

The Gameiro road passes through Zé Kapemba’s farm.

As erosion continues due to directional changes, the affected area grows.

Rain plays a crucial role in this process.

Deforestation

Particularly deforestation for livestock and wood utilization are responsible for the accelerated worsening of desertification.

However, contrary to what it may seem, life is being created here.

An Oasis in the Red Lands

It was by raising cattle that the cowboy Zé Kapemba raised his ten children with his wife, Zilmar Barbosa dos Santos.

His third daughter, Maria Lúcia, is married to farmer Francisco Washington Jr., who is responsible for the oasis in these reddish lands.

His property produces quality food that ends up on people’s tables.

Every morning, there is a harvest of lettuce, carrots, garlic, onions, corn, beans, and much more.

“It is very difficult to work here in the desert.

When I arrived in this land, nobody believed I would be able to plant, and now look.

I come here every day and manage to find food for my family and sell,” says Francisco.

Zé Kapemba’s son-in-law is responsible for transforming the 15-hectare area.

Before his arrival in the Malhadas region, the land was greatly undervalued due to the lack of vegetation.

A wide belief persisted that the soil was therefore poor in nutrients.

In fact, there was a lack of proper management. According to soil and plant nutritionist Fabriciano Neto, the typical stony soil of Malhadas is rich in phosphorus and poor in nitrogen.

By learning to compensate for this characteristic, production occurs.

“The chemical aspect of this soil is rich. What is lacking is the physical aspect, with machinery that can optimize the farmer’s work and specialized technical support for cultivating the land.”

As Francisco walks around the property, he points out locations showing what actions he has taken to improve work in the area.

Besides planting trees in the valleys to prevent soil erosion, he also built dams to level the land and reduce depressions in his area.

Over time, he achieves flatter areas for agricultural crops.

The tractor collects and grinds the corn, and then this plant mass is covered with a tarp and a layer of soil.

This way, even during the dry period, it is possible to ensure quality and nutrient-rich feed for the animals.

Agriculture is Possible

Quality agriculture has not always been possible in Gilbues.

Through a program launched by the Ministry of the Environment to combat desertification, Francisco and other local farmers were exposed to modern techniques and tools for managing the land and developing their agriculture.

The Research Center for the Rehabilitation of Degraded Areas and Combatting Desertification (Nuperade) arrived in Gilbues in 2006, opening up an unprecedented collaboration between farmers, technicians, and researchers.

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Source of information: brasil.mongabay.com

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