Importância das tecnologias sociais de captação e armazenamento de água de chuva para a segurança hídrica e a segurança alimentar e nutricional na bacia hidrográfica do rio Jequitinhonha: estudo de caso no quilombo Córrego do Cuba, Minas Gerais

Abstract

Access to water resources is one of the main factors to ensure Water Security (WS) and is essential for regular and healthy access to food, which provides Food and Nutritional Security (FNS). Social technologies for rainwater harvesting and storage are crucial for families in the Brazilian Semiarid region to ensure Water Security (WS) and to sustainably deal with the consequences of concentrated precipitation and/or the reduction of rain frequency. The impacts of social technologies on families in the Semiarid portion of the Jequitinhonha River basin in Minas Gerais-BR (MG-BR), and their influence on water security, socio-economic security, and food and nutritional security for the quilombola community of Córrego do Cuba in Chapada do Norte-MG-BR, are analyzed in this study. Methodologically, data and information from; scientific, governmental, and third-sector sources related to the Semiarid region, the Jequitinhonha Valley, Water Security (WS), Food and Nutritional Security (FNS), and social technologies were evaluated to provide knowledge bases and parameters for the analyses conducted in this research. To gather primary data, semi-structured questionnaires were administered in the community of Córrego do Cuba, located in the upper portion of the Jequitinhonha Valley. The goal was to understand the challenges faced by families regarding Water Security (WS) and Food and Nutritional Security (FNS), the impacts of social technologies, and identify the necessary interventions to improve social, food and water security in the community. The research results highlight the need for improvements and expansion of the Cistern Program. However, it also confirms the effectiveness of social technologies in providing access to quality water, food, and increased household income. These technologies also promote independence from political and business actors, making a significant contribution to Water Security (WS) and Food and Nutritional Security (FNS) for the population. Social technologies bring dignity to families as they eliminate the need to seek employment in other regions of the country, thereby avoiding the regional stigma of "widows of living husbands." As suggestions for future work, it is recommended to enhance public policies aimed at the Cistern Program, with a focus on its expansion and improvement. Furthermore, it would be relevant to investigate the impacts of social technologies in other communities in the Semiarid region in order to better understand their effectiveness and adaptability in different contexts. Another recommendation would be to evaluate the variables involved in the causes and consequences of drought and hunger, seeking to establish correlations between them, to the create a monitoring tool that integrates these two variables, providing a bigger range approach for understanding and jointly evaluate Water Security (WS) and Food and Nutritional Security (FNS).