Access to land and poverty reduction

Access to land as a basis for socio-economic empowerment

Rural poverty is strongly associated with poor access to land, either in the form of landlessness or because of insecure and contested land rights. Economic analysis has long recognized the importance of secure property rights for growth, and therefore for the poverty reduction which growth can bring. Increased land access for the poor can also bring direct

benefits of poverty alleviation, not least by contributing directly to increased household food security. In countries where agriculture is a main economic activity, access to land is a fundamental means whereby the poor can ensure household food supplies and generate income. This applies both to societies in which subsistence agriculture is prevalent, where access to land is the sine qua non of household food security; and to societies where agriculture is more market-oriented, in which family farming provides a principal source of employment generating the income with which to buy food. Even where agriculture and land are becoming less important with the growth of alternative sources of income, secure land rights provide a valuable source of income for investment, retirement or security in case of unemployment. In many countries, of course, and particularly where water for agricultural use is a relatively scarce resource, these statements also ho

ld true in relation to secure access to water, including where it is in conjunction with access to land. Secure rights to land are also a basis for shelter, for access to services and for civic and political participation. They are also a source of financial security, as collateral to raise credit or as a transferable asset that can be sold, rented out, mortgaged, loaned or bequeathed. Moreover, secure access to land creates incentives for the user to invest labour and other resources in it, so as to maintain or enhance its value and sustain its productivity, and to access social and economic development opportunities. In addition, research has documented a positive relationship between equitably distributed land and economic growth (Deininger & Squire 1998). While history provides examples of countries that have developed with very unequal land distributions (see for instance the industrial revolution that took place in Great Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries), research shows that, over the period 1960 2000, countries with a more egalitarian distribution of land tended to be characterized by higher levels of economic growth (Deininger 2003). More egalitarian land distributions are also associated with greater social peace and cohesion. Where land rights are highly concentrated, inequalities may spawn a sense of injustice, entailing risks of land occupations and even violent clashes over land. The experience of several East Asian countries (South Korea, Taiwan) shows how a reform resulting in more equitable land distribution is fundamental in creating the basis for sustained economic development.

The relationship between access to land and poverty reduction cannot be seen in isolation from broader agricultural and economic policy. Equally, these issues are intimately connected with rural development policies and environmental outcomes. The distribution of land rights and opportunities for access to land will have implications for the distribution of wealth, rates of economic growth and the incidence of poverty, and the shape and direction of agricultural development will affect the incomes and returns from different types of farming activity, the value of land and demands for access to land resources (Cotula et al 2004). The incentives and tenure structures that largely determine how land is used will profoundly affect environmental impacts and sustainability.Discussions on access to land should be placed in the context of the debate on agricultural modernization that is taking place in many parts of the world. Broadly speaking, two models of agricultural development are competing in the market for policy ideas. On the one hand, a commonly held view calls for the promotion of agribusiness as a way to attract private capital and increase agricultural productivity. On the other, family farming remains the backbone of rural livelihoods in many parts of the developing world, and has been shown to be dynamic, responsive to change, and an important source of investment in agriculture, such as West Africa (Toulmin & Guèye 2003). Elsewhere, as in Latin America, capital-intensive and family farmingcentred models co-exist, although research, development and extension support tend to be heavily concentrated on the commercial sector. Whereas social justice and equity concerns demand that agrarian strategy support the struggles of poor people for access to land as a means of subsistence and livelihood, some critics argue that smallholder farming is inefficient and that the rural poor would be better off leaving the land and finding employment in the modern economy whether in commercial farms or in the non-farm sector (Box 1). In practice, family farming competes with commercial demands for land and, given the context of increasingly globalized markets, sustaining rural livelihoods for smallholder farmers will depend on their continued modernization, with support from policy and resources to strengthen capacity and access to markets.Ultimately, the choice between large and smallholder farming systems is a question of politics as much as of economics. With the right kind of policy environment and availability of the appropriate services and infrastructure, small-scale farming systems can be at least as productive per hectare as large commercial farms, and also provide a decent living standard through assured access to local and global markets. The latter will depend not just on national policies but in large measure on the outcome of international trade negotiations such as in the context of WTO and EPA, and on the degree to which food aid will be decoupled from disposal of food surpluses, for example. In any case, smallholders must have their property rights secured and protected. This would provide collateral to obtain seasonal or longer-term credit for investment in productivity-enhancing changes or selection of an optimal time to sell the produce; enable them to safely rent out part of the land or rent in other land; or in the last resort provide the option to sell their land and harness the proceeds to develop new livelihood opportunities. Social, ethical, cultural and environmental considerations, as well as the internalization of externalities of agricultural production need to be considered in this equation.

Urban Agriculture in the Developing World

In the next two decades mass human migrations from rural to urban areas are expected to radically transform the world’s demographic landscape. Much of this migration will take place in the developing world, where rural inhabitants now subsist on small scale farming. As these farmers migrate to urban areas, harnessing their skills through urban agriculture may prove to be one of the most effective ways to alleviate the crippling poverty that many will inevitably face when they finally arrive in cities. For an academic overview of urban farming in the developing world, I suggest that you check out a paper written by Bettina Baumgartner and Hasan Belevi, two environmental researchers from Switzerland. But if you don’t have time for this thirty-five page report, I have summarized the crux of their argument below. Urban agriculture, they argue, is already an important tool for both income generation and food security in the developing world. Urban farmers, who are predominantly women, now account for a whopping 800 million people world wide. Through the cultivation of a fresh and diverse range of foods, urban farmers consume healthier meals that are rich in proteins and vitamins. Surplus foodstuffs are sold and bartered at local markets, creating supplementary income for farmers. Urban farming also improves resource management, as farmers reuse organic waste to fertilize their crops. And more generally, city farming is a productive way for using urban open space, improving air quality, and greening the city.

Agriculture urbaine dans le monde en voie de développement

En deux décennies suivantes on s’attend à ce que les migrations humaines de masse de rural aux secteurs urbains transforment radicalement le paysage démographique du monde. Beaucoup de cette migration aura lieu dans le monde en voie de développement, où les habitants ruraux subsistent maintenant de l’affermage à échelle réduite. Pendant que ces fermiers émigrent aux secteurs urbains, armer leurs qualifications par l’agriculture urbaine peut s’avérer être l’une des manières les plus efficaces d’alléger la pauvreté estropiante que beaucoup feront face inévitablement à quand elles arrivent finalement dans les villes. Pour une vue d’ensemble d’universitaire de l’affermage urbain dans le monde en voie de développement, je propose que vous vérifiiez un papier écrit par Bettina Baumgartner et Hasan Belevi, deux chercheurs environnementaux de Suisse. Mais si vous n’avez pas le temps pour ce trente-cinq rapports de page, j’ai récapitulé le noeud de leur argument ci-dessous. L’agriculture urbaine, ils discutent, sont déjà un outil important pour des revenus produits et la sécurité de nourriture dans le monde en voie de développement. Les fermiers urbains, qui sont principalement des femmes, expliquent maintenant 800 millions de personnes battant à plat de couture dans le monde entier. Par la culture d’une gamme fraîche et diverse des nourritures, les fermiers urbains consomment des repas plus sains qui sont riches en protéines et vitamines. Des produits alimentaires en surplus sont vendus et échangés aux marchés locaux, créant le revenu supplémentaire pour des fermiers. L’affermage urbain améliore également la gestion de ressource, car les fermiers réutilisent la perte organique pour fertiliser leurs récoltes. Et plus généralement, l’affermage de ville est une manière productive pour employer l’espace ouvert urbain, améliorer la qualité d’air, et verdir la ville.

Agricultura urbana en el mundo que se convierte
En las dos décadas próximas se espera que las migraciones humanas totales de rural a las áreas urbanas transformen radicalmente el paisaje demográfico del mundo. Mucha de esta migración ocurrirá en el mundo que se convierte, donde los habitantes rurales ahora subsisten en cultivar de la escala pequeña. Mientras que estos granjeros emigran a las áreas urbanas, enjaezar sus habilidades con agricultura urbana puede demostrar ser una de las maneras más eficaces de aliviar la pobreza que lisia que muchos inevitable harán frente a cuando finalmente llegan en ciudades. Para una descripción académica de cultivar urbano en el mundo que se convierte, sugiero que compruebas hacia fuera un papel escrito por Bettina Baumgartner y Hasan Belevi, a dos investigadores ambientales de Suiza. Pero si no tienes tiempo para este treinta y cinco informes de la página, he resumido el quid de su discusión abajo. La agricultura urbana, discuten, son ya una herramienta importante para la generación de renta y la seguridad del alimento en el mundo que se convierte. Los granjeros urbanos, que son predominante mujeres, ahora explican a 800 millones de personas de whopping por todo el mundo. Con la cultivación de una gama fresca y diversa de alimentos, los granjeros urbanos consumen comidas más sanas que sean ricas en proteínas y vitaminas. Los comestibles de sobra se venden y se truecan en los mercados locales, creando la renta suplementaria para los granjeros. El cultivar urbano también mejora la gerencia de recurso, pues los granjeros reutilizan la basura orgánica para fertilizar sus cosechas. Y más generalmente, el cultivar de la ciudad es una manera productiva para usar el espacio abierto urbano, mejorar calidad del aire, y poner verde la ciudad.