Brazil announces agrarian plan to settle 295,000 families by 2026

The Brazilian government announced on Monday (Apr. 15) a new strategy for allocating land for agrarian reform in the country. The Terra da Gente program, regulated in a decree signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during a ceremony at the Planalto presidential palace, establishes legal alternatives for obtaining land for agrarian reform, in addition to conventional methods such as the expropriation of unproductive areas and the regularization of public lands. 

One notable addition includes the adjudication (transfer of ownership) of land owned by major debtors to the Brazilian state. Moreover, the program introduces avenues for negotiation with banks, state-run companies, and state governments, enabling the exchange of rural properties for debt relief or swaps (offsetting balances).

"It's a new way of tackling an old problem. I asked [Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming] Paulo Teixeira to carry out a survey, with the help of the governors, state land management secretariats, and the staff of the National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra) across states, so that we identify all the land that could be made available for settlement in this country," said President Lula, during the program's announcement. According to him, the idea is to speed up land reform by non-confrontational means.

"This does not invalidate the continuity of the struggle for land reform. Our aim, as perceived by the nation, is to pursue avenues that minimize conflict," remarked the president, who also highlighted Brazil's history of land concentration dating back to the hereditary captaincies of the colonial era.

According to data from Incra, 89,000 rural properties in Brazil exceed 1,000 hectares, covering 60.63 percent of the country's rural land. In contrast, 2.5 million properties spanning up to ten hectares occupy only 1.5 percent of the rural landscape. Furthermore, 5 million rural properties ranging up to 50 hectares collectively account for 9 percent of the national rural territory.

Program goals

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the launch of the Terra da Gente Program. Photo: Valter Campanato/Agência Brasil

The stated objective for the period spanning 2023 to 2026 is to integrate a minimum of 295,000 new families into the National Agrarian Reform Program, encompassing all existing methods of land acquisition.

"This is a baseline, a minimum threshold. Our approach is flexible. We anticipate contributions from states, land from major debtors, public funding, and this could extend our objectives," stated Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, Paulo Teixeira.

As per the government's plan, 73,200 families will be settled this year, followed by 81,000 next year and 90,500 in 2026, the final year of the current administration. These numbers supplement the 50,900 families integrated into agrarian reform last year. Notably, nearly half of the total settled in 2023 (24,700 families) received vacant plots within existing settlements.

Incra also includes families settled in areas established by state land agencies and those residing in conservation units managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), amounting to 15,100 households last year. Moreover, the establishment of new settlements and the titling of quilombola territories totaled 10,900 in 2023. According to the government, this figure represents a 60 percent increase compared to the period between 2017 and 2022, encompassing the administrations of former presidents Michel Temer and Jair Bolsonaro.

Expropriation and purchase

To facilitate land allocation via expropriation or direct purchase, Incra has earmarked a budget of BRL 520 million for 2024. Among this allocation, BRL 383 million is designated for landless workers, with an additional BRL 137 million allocated for the titling of quilombola lands. According to Incra's president, César Aldrighi, the primary focus of these resources will be on acquiring lands ensnared in conflicts.

"We've pinpointed the most pressing conflicts, with Incra's Ombudsman and the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming actively engaging with these encampments. There has been notable interest from landowners in selling these areas. The BRL 520 million budget allocation is being actively utilized, with a substantial portion already committed to reserving lands for the secondary phase, known as conflict pacification areas. It's important to note that in previous years, we lacked funds specifically designated for land acquisition. Hence, the BRL 520 million allocation represents a significant step forward," stated Aldrighi.

Since last year, Incra has established 37 new settlements, accommodating 1,400 families. These initiatives had been stalled under previous administrations but have now been revitalized. Additionally, the land authority resumed registering families living in encampments under conditions of social vulnerability, a practice that had been discontinued in the previous government. According to estimates by the Landless Workers' Movement (MST), approximately 100,000 families are currently encamped along roadsides and in occupied areas awaiting allocation for land reform. The government reports that since 2017, there have been 780 land conflicts across the country.

Regarding lands owned by state-run companies and banks, Incra has entered into confidentiality agreements with financial institutions. These agreements aim to facilitate the analysis of rural land holdings and explore options for acquisition through direct purchase or debt relief arrangements with the Brazilian state.

Repercussion

Representatives of grassroots movements advocating for land rights, gathered at the Planalto presidential palace, emphasized the importance of resolving agrarian conflicts across the country, which can only be achieved through equitable land distribution.

"Peace in the countryside bears a name: agrarian reform," stated Ceres Hadich, a national leader of the MST. She portrayed the program's announcement as a revival of vital public policy, one that demands a secure budget allocation. "Beyond mere program creation and planning, it's imperative to ensure adequate funding, fortified state structures, and empowered civil servants driven by a sense of purpose to fulfill this monumental task of fortifying democracy," she emphasized. Hadich further remarked, "The announcement of a significant resurgence in the establishment of settlement projects across Brazil aligns perfectly with the two central priorities of the Lula government: combating hunger and safeguarding the environment."

Social movements additionally advocated for increased infrastructure development in rural communities, including improved access to water, education, and healthcare. They also stressed the importance of providing incentives for sustainable production practices.

"It's insufficient to merely secure access to land. To combat hunger, we must delve deeper. We need to actively promote the transition to agroecology, thereby decarbonizing our food systems," emphasized Anderson Gomes, representing the Small Farmers' Movement (MPA).