A história vivida e contada: biografias e trajetórias no projeto Curupati Irrigação no contexto do Complexo Castanhão - CE

Abstract

The construction of the Castanhão Dam in Ceará led to the resettlement of rural communities in the Curupati Irrigation Project, generating significant socioeconomic impacts. This study analyzed the trajectories of resettled farmers, assessing changes in their quality of life before and after the project's implementation. The research, of a qualitative and quantitative nature, combined a bibliographic review, documentary analysis and current interviews (2025) with five farmers who participated in a previous study, carried out in 1999. The results reveal improvements in infrastructure, such as access to housing, piped water, and electricity, as well as advancements in health and education services. However, challenges persist, including insufficient income, project disorganization, lack of technical support, and the invasion of third parties into irrigated lots. The farmers' narratives highlight a process marked by loss, adaptation, and frustration, underscoring the gap between government promises and the lived reality. It is concluded that, although the project has brought benefits in terms of infrastructure, it is necessary to strengthen technical and financial support, regularize land lots, improve basic sanitation, and promote community participation to ensure sustainability and social justice. The study contributes to the reflection on the impacts of large infrastructure projects and the formulation of more effective public policies for rural development.