Abstract

Lucas Mercelo, Jose Monteiro Vargas and Heitor Moraes

The Brazilian agribusiness is growing fast, especially in the last fifteen years when the grains production almost two-folded. Besides the expansion in the agricultural frontier to the Amazonian Region, there are other drivers for the success. As one of the biggest country around the globe, Brazil has the largest water reserve in the world. Brazilian agriculture production and productivity are also related to the use of irrigation systems. Based on a bibliographic research, this paper presented the context of Brazilian agriculture expansion; its demands for water resources by means of irrigation systems; some advances in legislation with the creation of two main mechanisms of water resources management (granting and charging for use); and, discusses some practices in water resources management which are being implemented in some Brazilian regions. In conclusion, the water resources management applied in irrigation of Brazilian agriculture depends on the complete achievement in the Hydrographic Basin Committees’ role to reach the legislation objectives and saving natural resources.