BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) announced the release of R$75.8 million from the Rio Doce Fund for new projects aimed at family farmers, indigenous peoples, quilombola communities and planning actions in the Rio Doce basin, in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.
The resources are part of the reparation measures for the damage caused by the collapse of the Fundão dam, in Mariana (MG), in 2015.
According to the bank, the projects cover productive recovery initiatives, technical assistance, digital inclusion in the field, consultations with traditional communities and strengthening social participation in reparation actions.
Among the projects included is Florestas Produtivas com Barraginhas, which received R$ 23.6 million in this first stage. The amount is part of a planned total of R$100.8 million for the coming years.
The initiative foresees the implementation of 1.4 thousand hectares of Agroforestry Systems, construction of 4.2 thousand dams and continued technical assistance for 4,650 production units.
The project will be led by the MDA (Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture), with execution by Anater (National Agency for Technical Assistance and Rural Extension). The proposal combines environmental recovery and income generation through the adoption of integrated production systems and infrastructure for rainwater capture and erosion control.
Another project announced was Rio Doce Semear Digital, which will receive R$19.1 million in this initial phase and is expected to reach R$30 million in future disbursements. Developed in partnership between Anater and Embrapa, the program seeks to expand connectivity and digital inclusion in rural areas, focusing on the cocoa, coffee, livestock and fruit and vegetable chains.
The initiative foresees the creation of four Centers for the Propagation of Inclusive Digital Innovation in the municipalities of Governador Valadares, Raul Soares and Caratinga, in Minas Gerais, in addition to Colatina, in Espírito Santo.
In addition to the new projects, the bank announced the release of new installments of the Income Transfer Program (PTR). R$115.7 million were allocated to PTR Rural and R$158.6 million to PTR-Pesca. The program provides monthly payments equivalent to 1.5 minimum wages for three years for affected farmers and fishermen. In the fourth year, the value changes to a minimum wage.
According to BNDES, the resources already transferred to the program exceed R$950 million since payments began, in July 2025.
Traditional communities
In the area of traditional communities, the Rio Doce Fund allocated R$14.58 million to carry out Free, Prior and Informed Consultation and Damage Impact Studies in indigenous communities in the two states. The action will involve the Tupiniquim, Guarani and Puri peoples, with an estimated population of around 7 thousand people in the region.
The project will be coordinated by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, with execution by Ifes (Federal Institute of Espírito Santo) and administrative management by Fundação Facto.
R$1.3 million were also released for consultations in quilombola communities in Mariana (MG), São Mateus and Conceição da Barra (ES), in addition to Linhares (ES). The execution will have technical support from the Federal University of Espírito Santo (Ufes).
Another transfer, of R$2.2 million, will be used to prepare the Integrated Development Plan for the Rio Doce Basin. The document should establish guidelines for the next five to ten years, including diagnosis of repair measures already implemented and definition of short, medium and long-term actions.
BNDES also announced new resources for ATIs (Independent Technical Advisors), responsible for supporting affected communities in monitoring repair actions.
R$9.8 million was allocated to the ATIs of Mariana and Barra Longa (MG), in addition to R$5.1 million for entities that work with the quilombola community of Degredo, in Linhares (ES), and around 1,500 miners’ families in the Alto Rio Doce region.
