Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2026, Göttingen "Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient futures"

Participatory water governance for climate-resilient rural development in brazil’s legal amazon: evidence from project manuel alves

¹State University of Tocantins, Department of Administration, Brazil
²State University of Tocantins, Department of Administration

Abstract

Water governance is a central condition for sustainable rural development in large irrigation-based agricultural territories, especially where multiple institutions and user groups depend on shared water infrastructure. This study examines the governance of water resources in Project Manuel Alves, located in Dianópolis, Tocantins (State, Brazil), in Brazil’s Legal Amazon, with emphasis on how institutional coordination, stakeholder participation, and access to technical information shape local development outcomes. The research asks how participatory governance influences the social, economic, and environmental performance of the project and what constraints limit its contribution to climate-resilient and multifunctional agro-ecosystems. A qualitative, exploratory design was adopted, combining bibliographic and documentary review, participant observation of meetings of the irrigation district and river basin committee, and semi-structured interviews with farmers, irrigation managers, and basin committee members. Data were analysed thematically to identify patterns of coordination, asymmetries in information access, and perceived effects of water management on livelihoods and resource use. Preliminary findings indicate that participatory arrangements have strengthened local dialogue and contributed to agricultural productivity, employment generation, and income opportunities. However, the effectiveness of governance remains uneven due to unequal access to technical knowledge, persistent communication gaps among stakeholders, and recurring challenges related to infrastructure maintenance. These constraints reduce the ability of producers to optimise water use and may weaken the long-term sustainability of the initiative. The study argues that water governance in tropical agricultural frontier regions of the Legal Amazon should be understood not only as a regulatory mechanism, but also as a strategic dimension of rural development and adaptive capacity. Strengthening communication channels, technical training, and inclusive decision-making can improve both resource efficiency and social equity. By highlighting the links between institutional arrangements, water use, and local livelihoods in the Legal Amazon, the paper contributes to current debates on how multifunctional agro-ecosystems can become more climate-resilient in the Global South.

Keywords: Brazil, climate resilience, Legal Amazon, rural development, water governance

Contact Address: Osmar de Paula Oliveira Júnior, State University of Tocantins, Department of Administration, Rua do ouro, 77300000 Dianópolis, Brazil, e-mail: osmar.pounitins.br