320RK1 LAND REFORM IN LATIN AMERICA “ It is in the agricultural sector that the battle for long-term economic development will be won or lost.” Gunnar Myrdal

Low levels of productivity

High levels of unemployment

Dependence on agricultural products

320RK5 Distribution of Farms and Farmland Avg. Operational farm size hectares % of farmland above 50 hectares % of tenanted area in farmland Asia: Bangladesh India Philippines Na Latin America: Brazil Costa Rica Peru

320RK6 Structure of Agrarian Systems Two kinds of world agriculture: Efficient agriculture- high labour and land productivity Inefficient agriculture - diminishing returns to labour

320RK7 Land Reform: Is it inevitable for tenant’s welfare Land reform means the redistribution of property or land rights for the benefit of the landless, tenants, and farm laborers. Agrarian reform embraces improvements in both land tenure and agricultural organization.

Latifundio and Minifundio Latin American agriculture is characterized by the dualistic latifundio-minifundio system. A small fraction of landowners own the great majority of cultivated land in the region. The latifundio system persists partly because land ownership provides positive externalities, such as social status and political power 320RK8

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10 Latifundio-Minifundio pattern Latifundios- employment of 12 or more Minifundios- employment of 2 or less Inefficient operation of latifundios Inequality in land distribution

320RK11 Toward a strategy of agricultural and rural development Improving agriculture Technology and innovation Institutional and pricing policies Conditions for rural development Land reform Supportive policies Integrated development objectives