Rural Producers’ Discourses on the Brazilian Agricultural Frontier: Between Local and External Narratives on Land and Forest

Abstract

The Brazilian Amazon is a region deeply influenced by historical development dynamics and resource extraction. In it, rural producers (RPs) are often held responsible for the increasing deforestation of the biome. This article explores the intricate relationship between national and global discourses and narratives of RPs in Novo Progresso (NP), an emblematic municipality located along the BR-163 highway on the agricultural frontier in the Brazilian Amazon. The study seeks to answer the question: How do RPs’ historical and present positioning and narratives shape land use and management on the agricultural frontier in NP? To comprehensively understand these dynamics, the research incorporates the RPs’ narratives within the historical context of local, national, and international discourses that contribute to land-related decision-making, migration, displacement, and socio-environmental issues, including widespread deforestation. The article situates the RPs in three historical trends: the construction of BR-163, the onset of external pressure, and the current advance of the agricultural frontier. Through biographical interviews, the study connects the RPs’ narratives with national and international developmental discourses in and for the region, providing insights into how RPs perceive the socio-environmental dynamics in NP. The results present various discourses that have impacted biographies and local land dynamics, further developing socio-environmental issues. In addition, the position of the RPs in the region and their biographies contribute to the discussion on determining how to deal with the region’s socio-environmental issues.