CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE UNDERGROUND DAM TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AN AGRO-ECOSYSTEM IN THE SERTÃO OF NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Abstract

The underground dam is a social technology for capturing and storing rainwater underground. Its adoption has proven to be an effective strategy for living with the scarcity of rainfall in the Brazilian semi-arid region, reducing the climatic vulnerability of the region's productive units. Despite the growing adoption of underground dams, there are still few studies that systematically evaluate their contribution to the sustainability of family-based agricultural systems. Given this context, the aim of this study was to assess the impacts of underground dams on the economic, environmental and social sustainability of a family agro-ecosystem located in the semi-arid region of the state of Alagoas. The research was carried out with the participation of a farming family and local technicians, using tools from Participatory Rural Diagnosis and the MESMIS Methodology. The results show that the agro-ecosystem analyzed has a solid basis for sustainability, especially with the adoption of technologies for accessing and storing rainwater. However, some indicators revealed weaknesses that require integrated and continuous action in order to promote effective advances in the system's sustainability. As for the contributions of the underground dam, it was found that by integrating technical and local knowledge, it strengthens the cultural identity and protagonism of the rural family, promoting care for the land and the preservation of ways of life. The underground dam, as a social technology, not only improves the economic-ecological conditions of the agro-ecosystem, but also strengthens the social and cultural ties that sustain the family's resilience in the territory.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.016-001