Better Land Access For The Rural Poor

There are many channels of access to land and each of these affects how land is used. This book analyzes each of these channels of access to land, and recommends ways of making them more effective for poverty reduction

Reviews causes of poverty in rural areas and presents a policy framework for reducing rural poverty, including through land reform, public works programs, access to credit, physical and social infrastructure, subsidies, and transfer of technology. Identifies key elements for drafting a policy to reduce rural poverty.

Major characteristics and causes of landlessness. Economic and social condition of the landless and other groups. Measures to tackle the problem of landlessness. Research priorities and action programmes.

In most developing countries, poverty is more widespread and severe in rural than in urban areas. The author reviews some important aspects of rural poverty and draws key implications for public policy. He presents a policy framework for reducing poverty, taking into account the functional differences and overlap between the rural poor. Several policy options are delineated and explained, including stable management of the macroeconomic environment, transfer of assets, investment in and access to the physical and social infrastructure, access to credit and jobs, and provision of safety nets. Finally, some guideposts are identified for assessing strategies to reduce rural poverty.