Difusão da conservação do solo e água no sudoeste do Paraná por meio de videos técnicos para redes sociais

Abstract

In the southwest of Paraná, the combination of undulating terrain and high rainfall leads to an intensification of soil erosion. Although the no-till farming system (NTF) is predominant, only 20% of farmers correctly follow its principles. The poor implementation of NTF increases the need for terraces to control surface runoff; however, what has been observed is the indiscriminate removal of this mechanical soil conservation practice, which contributes to worsening the erosion process and compromises both soil and water quality, as well as agricultural productivity. In this context, it becomes essential to raise awareness among farmers, agricultural technicians, and agronomy students about the importance and necessity of using terraces in areas under no-till farming. The limitations of traditional rural extension methods and the increasing use of the internet and social media by farmers and technicians have made these platforms effective tools for outreach and education. This study aimed to create technical videos on soil and water conservation in southwestern Paraná for dissemination via social media. The videos were recorded in the municipality of Boa Esperança do Iguaçu, PR, in agricultural areas without terraces, where terraces were later constructed through a partnership between UTFPR-DV, IDR, and the municipal government. Additionally, this municipality has experienced a significant proliferation of aquatic plants in the Jaracatiá River, a consequence of the lack of soil and water conservation in the surrounding farmland. After capturing footage, two technical videos were developed on the topic: Soil and Water Conservation in Agricultural Fields: Economic and Environmental Benefits, and Terracing for Erosion Control. The first video provided a general overview of the challenges related to soil and water conservation in southwestern Paraná, where edaphoclimatic conditions promote erosive processes. The second video aimed to highlight the problems caused by the absence of terraces in crop fields and, in a technical manner, presented what terraces are, their functions, construction aspects, and the benefits of their implementation. Thus, it is concluded that the production of technical videos on soil and water conservation, with an emphasis on the importance of terracing, is a promising tool for raising public awareness in the pursuit of more sustainable agriculture.