LEMOS, P. P.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0079188903245817; LEMOS, Pedro Pereira.
Resumen:
In Brazil the unfair land distribution has been a reason of social struggle, which focuses on
the attempt of sorting it out. Researchers have been committed in promoting policies to
either solve the matter, or reduce it. In 1998, the Brazilian Government initiated a new land
reform program The "Fundo de Terras e da Reforma Agrária - Banco da Terra" (Land
Fund and Land Reform) is intended to buying land through direct negotiations between
proprietors and beneficiaries This is known as the Market-Assisted Land Reform. The
main goal of this work is to study this new land reform tool, highlighting some of its
operating aspects in the State of Paraíba. In order to do so, we had to do reserches on
books, textbooks, articles, reports, internet sites, etc. We also attended meetings at local
labor syndicates, visited some locations where the program is in place, and interviewed
personnel concerned, at Secretaria do Banco da Terra e do INCRA, in Paraiba. We noticed
that the unfair land distribution system is a historical issue in Brazil but, along time, it has
shown new elements, enhancing the subject under discussion. As a matter of fact, when it
comes to solving the land distribution point, very little concrete measure have been
achieved to overcome the situation. Banco da Terra comes up from a macroeconômica!and
neoliberal context by the government of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. In brief, it
hands over to the market the task of solving this historical problem. In Paraíba, the program
was implemented in 2000. However, we could detect some negative results in its
performance. The land price has become more expensive, and, in cooperation with other
instalments, it dismantles the organized struggle that the Landless have towards land.
Moreover, everything indicates that most of the beneficiaries will not be able to pay off the
acquired financing debts. Even though, in contrast to what we used to believe, this is still
not the main concern regarding land distribution in Paraíba. At present, Banco da Terra
does not seem to be a good alternative, especially for regions that suffer from weather
difficulties, as the Northeast does It is not the goal of the Bank to either correct an unfair
and historical process or ensure means of providing a better life to the beneficiaries. In
other words, it is a program that is maintained, managed and directed to the market