Agrarian Reform In Iran Samira Farahani, Iran ICRICAT 7-11 th February 2005 – India

History of Land Reform in IRAN

Socioeconomic situation of the last 40 years:  Unstable political situation;  US Congress recommendation to settle political unrest;  Progress lead to the White Revolution - The most important output: Land Reform

Main objectives Political Political – Settle political unrest Social Social –The distribution of land ownership from landlords to small farmers –To gain popularity with the majority population Economic Economic –Improvement of the overall economic situation through agricultural development

Land Reform Impacts Agriculture and natural resources Agriculture and natural resources Socioeconomic situation Socioeconomic situation Failure Failure Nomadic peoples Nomadic peoples

Agriculture & Natural Resources Destruction of traditional management systems Destruction of traditional management systems –Soil and water management system –Participatory farming Elimination of traditional agricultural boarders Elimination of traditional agricultural boarders Nationalisation of natural resources including rangelands and forests Nationalisation of natural resources including rangelands and forests Elimination of crop diversity and introduction of monoculture for industrial agriculture Elimination of crop diversity and introduction of monoculture for industrial agriculture

Socioeconomic Situation Socioeconomic Situation Deterioration of relationships Deterioration of relationships Migration to cities Migration to cities –Poverty –Unemployment –Drugs –Marginalisation –Smuggling –Trafficking –… Expansion of cities Expansion of cities

Land Reform Failure Lack of initial capital to farm small lands Lack of initial capital to farm small lands –Selling of small lands back to large landlords  Farmers working for large landlords on the same land  Migration to cities Consumer society Consumer society Larger disparities Larger disparities Loss of traditional identity Loss of traditional identity

Nomadic Pastoralists of Iran

More than 90% of Iran’s surface is arid or semi-arid land; More than 90% of Iran’s surface is arid or semi-arid land; Migrating pastoralists number 1.3 million according to government figures (or about 700 tribes and independent clans); Migrating pastoralists number 1.3 million according to government figures (or about 700 tribes and independent clans); In a highly variable environment, seasonal mobility of humans and livestock is an ecological necessity; In a highly variable environment, seasonal mobility of humans and livestock is an ecological necessity; Rangelands have shown signs of severe pressure over the past several decades due to over cultivation as well as the intrusion of government and private sector into what was previously common-property rangelands and tribal migration routes and rights of way; Rangelands have shown signs of severe pressure over the past several decades due to over cultivation as well as the intrusion of government and private sector into what was previously common-property rangelands and tribal migration routes and rights of way; Recent international experience has established that over-cultivation of marginal lands is a major threat to drylands. Recent international experience has established that over-cultivation of marginal lands is a major threat to drylands.

Land Reform and Nomadic Pastoralists of Iran During the pre-1963 land reform, pastoralist communities used common property management systems. The land reform programme of the Shah alienated the pastoralists from their common property land and customary rights. During the pre-1963 land reform, pastoralist communities used common property management systems. The land reform programme of the Shah alienated the pastoralists from their common property land and customary rights. The long-term consequences of land reform policies have been the disintegration of the social system of nomadic pastoral communities and the weakening of sustainable management systems for natural resources. The long-term consequences of land reform policies have been the disintegration of the social system of nomadic pastoral communities and the weakening of sustainable management systems for natural resources.

What Can We Do?

CENESTA’s Experience Community Sustainable Investment Fund of the Council of Elders of the Kuhi Sub-tribe of the Qashqai; Community Sustainable Investment Fund of the Council of Elders of the Kuhi Sub-tribe of the Qashqai; –Sustainable livelihoods; –Restoration of the traditional customary institutions; –Official recognition of the Council of Elders Community Conserved Areas (CCA) ; Community Conserved Areas (CCA) ;

Legal support service to nomads; legal education; legal education; legal information; legal information; judicial support; judicial support; documentation of customary tribal laws related to natural resources; documentation of customary tribal laws related to natural resources; legal reform; legal reform; legal advocacy legal advocacy

Thank you for your attention!