The number of land-related conflicts in Brazil experienced a slight decline in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2023, according to a report published by the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) on Monday (02/12). Despite this drop, the incidents remain alarmingly high, marking the second-largest tally since 2015. The report highlights various forms of violence, including land invasions, evictions, threats, destruction of property, and even cases of modern slavery, underscoring the ongoing struggles faced by rural communities.
Number of Cases
CPT recorded 1,056 cases in the first half of 2024, compared to 1,127 in 2023. This figure includes a wide array of disputes, such as 872 land-related conflicts, 125 disputes over water rights, and 59 instances of forced labor. While the current total reflects a decrease from last year’s record-breaking 2,203 cases, it remains higher than the incidents reported during the latter years of the Bolsonaro administration in 2021 and 2022, which saw 749 and 950 cases, respectively.
A Growing Threat: Pesticides
Incidents of violence linked to pesticide contamination showed the most alarming increase, skyrocketing by 858% from 19 cases in 2023 to 182 in 2024. Most of these incidents occurred in Maranhão, where aerial pesticide spraying has severely affected local communities.
Main Targets and Perpetrators
The CPT identifies sharecroppers as the most frequent victims, involved in 235 conflicts, followed by Indigenous peoples (220), quilombola communities (116), and members of the landless movement (92). On the other side, the primary aggressors include landowners (339 cases), followed by business owners (137), the federal government (88), state governments (44), and illegal land grabbers (33).
Record Levels in 2023
While 2024 marks a slight improvement, 2023 remains a grim milestone with the highest number of rural conflicts—2,203 cases—recorded since the CPT began tracking such incidents in 1985. This stark reality emphasizes the need for effective policies and interventions to address the root causes of rural violence in Brazil.
Analysis:
The report from the Comissão Pastoral da Terra (CPT) highlights the ongoing rural conflict crisis in Brazil, despite a slight decrease in cases during the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year. With 1,056 incidents, the situation remains alarmingly high, reflecting deep-rooted issues related to land ownership and violence against vulnerable communities like indigenous groups, quilombolas, and squatters. This persistent violence, even under a new government, indicates that public policies are still inadequate in addressing rural disputes.
Moreover, large landowners and businessmen, as well as the federal government, are identified as major contributors to the conflicts. This reflects a power imbalance where rural communities are marginalized, and state complicity hinders the implementation of effective policies.
Sources: A Folha de SP.
