ESTRUTURA FUNDIÁRIA, USO DA TERRA E IRRIGAÇÃO NOS MUNICÍPIOS DE JAGUARIBARA, JAGUARETAMA E MORADA NOVA: ANÁLISE DA ÁREA SUSCETÍVEL À DESERTIFICAÇÃO DO MÉDIO JAGUARIBE – CE

The Susceptible Area to Desertification of the Médio Jaguaribe, in Ceará, presents environmental fragilities conditioned by climatic limitations and historical land use dynamics. This study investigates the relationship between agrarian structure, agricultural practices, and environmental vulnerability in the municipalities of Jaguaribara, Jaguaretama, and Morada Nova. A descriptive quantitative approach was adopted based on the triangulation of data from the 2017 Agricultural Census (IBGE) and the National Rural Cadastre System (INCRA). The results show structural disparities: Jaguaribara concentrates minifundia (73.85%) with high tenure instability, while Jaguaretama (71.47%) and Morada Nova (43.54%) record a predominance of small properties and a higher proportion of owning producers. Family farming accounts for over 82% of establishments in the region. In the productive dimension, Morada Nova shows greater technification, with intensive use of irrigation and agrochemical application by 60% of producers. Conversely, Jaguaretama exhibits low technological incorporation and a predominance of conventional soil preparation. It is concluded that agricultural management and land organization are structuring factors of local degradation risks, requiring differentiated strategies and public policies to ensure territorial sustainability.