Smallholders in the Caatinga and the Cerrado: A Baseline Analysis for a Rural Just Transition in Brazil

The report analyzes the socioeconomic and productive profiles of smallholders in the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes of Brazil. It highlights significant disparities in productivity, water access, and poverty levels between the two regions, noting that smallholders in the Caatinga are more likely to engage in subsistence farming and face higher poverty rates. The analysis emphasizes that a 'rural just transition' requires tailored policies that address these regional differences, specifically targeting the needs of women and black farmers who often manage smaller plots. It identifies critical barriers to sustainable transition, including low education levels, deficient technical assistance, and limited access to climate-resilient inputs. The report argues for a shift from extractive to regenerative models by supporting a subset of smallholders interested in commercialization through labor-intensive, low-carbon agricultural practices.

• Smallholders in the Caatinga biome exhibit significantly lower productivity and higher poverty levels compared to those in the Cerrado. In the Caatinga, 68.3% of smallholders produce for their own consumption, and the poverty rate is 22.8%, compared to a national average of 6.6%.
• There are stark differences in water access and production methods between the two biomes. Caatinga producers rely heavily on cisterns (used by 72%) due to high water scarcity, while Cerrado producers have better access to perennial sources like rivers, springs, or wells.
• Gender and race intersect with land ownership and economic vulnerability. Women and black farmers are more likely to head smallholdings but manage smaller areas of land. In the Caatinga, black smallholders run 71% of smallholdings but represent only 60% of the total area.
• The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices is hindered by severe gaps in technical assistance and education. Only 8% of smallholders in the Caatinga and 16.8% in the Cerrado receive technical assistance, and over 50% of smallholders in the Caatinga are illiterate.
• A distinct group of smallholders shows a capacity for commercialization that could be leveraged for a just transition. In the Cerrado, 48% of smallholders have commercialization as their main source of income, compared to only 26% in the Caatinga.

APA

Climate Policy Initiative (2023). Smallholders in the Caatinga and the Cerrado: A Baseline Analysis for a Rural Just Transition in Brazil. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/smallholders-in-the-caatinga-and-the-cerrado-a-baseline-analysis-for-a-rural-just-transition-in-brazil/

Chicago

Climate Policy Initiative. Smallholders in the Caatinga and the Cerrado: A Baseline Analysis for a Rural Just Transition in Brazil. 2023. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/smallholders-in-the-caatinga-and-the-cerrado-a-baseline-analysis-for-a-rural-just-transition-in-brazil/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Policy Initiative |title=Smallholders in the Caatinga and the Cerrado: A Baseline Analysis for a Rural Just Transition in Brazil |date=13 February 2023 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/smallholders-in-the-caatinga-and-the-cerrado-a-baseline-analysis-for-a-rural-just-transition-in-brazil/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatepolicyinitiative2023smallholders, author = {{Climate Policy Initiative}}, title = {{Smallholders in the Caatinga and the Cerrado: A Baseline Analysis for a Rural Just Transition in Brazil}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/smallholders-in-the-caatinga-and-the-cerrado-a-baseline-analysis-for-a-rural-just-transition-in-brazil/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }