Usina Hidrelétrica de Irapé, reassentados e programas para a agricultura familiar no Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais

Abstract

This dissertation identifies the impacts of the resettlement process promoted by the Usina Hidrelétrica de Irapé on the living conditions and productive practices of farming families resettled in the municipalities of Botumirim and Cristália, in the Jequitinhonha Valley, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study aimed to identify the impacts caused by the resettlement of families affected by the construction of the hydroelectric plant, focusing on the transformations in their living conditions and productive strategies. The research adopted a qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and photographic records, combined with the analysis of socioeconomic data from the resettled families. The results indicate that, although the resettlement ensured formal land tenure, limitations persist regarding production conditions, access to rural credit, and technical assistance, factors that directly influence agricultural organization and income generation. Production occurs predominantly on a small scale and is mainly oriented toward subsistence, with diversified productive systems and pluriactivity practices such as animal husbandry, artisanal dairy production, and fishing used as complementary strategies for social reproduction. The narratives of the interviewees reveal that the compulsory displacement involved not only material losses but also territorial and symbolic ruptures, requiring continuous adaptation to new living and working spaces. The study concludes that the resettlement process has been marked by challenges in consolidating sustainable rural livelihoods, highlighting the need to strengthen public policies aimed at supporting family farming in resettled territories. There is a need to strengthen actions related to technical assistance, rural credit, and support for family farming, considering the socio-territorial specificities of resettlement areas, in order to promote more dignified conditions for remaining in the countryside