Natural resources and population dynamics in the semi-arid region of Paraíba State

Abstract

This paper is about the conflict originated by the water and land
its impacts on the economy and environment of the central region of Paraiba State. It overviews the state policies involving land reform and irrigation as an element to control population flows. The methodology chosen was to study irrigation projects in the cities of Condado and Santa Helena by means of investigation in loco (questionnaires and interviews) and of indirect analysis
done between October and December of 2003. The paper is organized in five sections: introduction, methodology, social conflicts and public politics involving agrarian reform and irrigation at Northwest Region and at State of Paraiba;
characterization of the regions studied and the local’s social conflicts. The main conclusions in this paper indicate that: a) there is water and land concentration in both cities studied; b) those regions suffer social and economic consequences
as a reflection of environmental degradation and emigration; c) there is a negative effect linking inefficient allocation of naturals resources, available at the areas studied, and the growth of the risk groups on the outskirts of big cities, where people emigrating from the central region of Paraiba go to; d) a small number of
those people have found a job in the formal labor market.