The last multi-year drought (2012-2018) in Ceará has challenged the human water supply, the agricultural development and the water resource management of the State. This drought has triggered an increase in the construction of individual small dams which may compete with State strategic dams for human water supply. However, these small dams are part of a logic of multiple water uses and how they contribute to agricultural development have been poorly documented. The objective of this communication is to look at these individual small dams in a systemic and territorial perspective and to understand how they fit into the current agricultural trajectories. We show how the strong dynamic of dairy development has driven a process of intensification for fodder production in lowland and infiltration areas around dams: these areas are beneficiated from the humidity of soil and thus can be cultivated during the dry season, becoming a strong productive advantage. We emphasize the need of finding trade-offs between upstream-downstream and macro-micro water infrastructures and more broadly between socio-economic local development and water security for human supply. Finally, we highlight the importance of working on a model of territorial water governance.