Land Ownership is an Incentive to Invest

Land ownership enables farmers to invest in the land they own and increases resilience against shocks.

Unfortunately, very little of agricultural land is owned or used by the poor for their own benefit. The poor do not have enough money to buy land. On the other hand, the better-off sometimes have large land areas which they cannot farm productively. It is desirable both on equity considerations and on efficiency grounds to give the poor more access to land. Where possible, the poor have to be given greater access to land either through land reform or financial support to buy the land, either individually, or in groups. Where possible, the poor need to be given more secure property rights and supported with necessary extension services and inputs to ensure that they use these lands productively and sustainably.

Improving women's access to quality land and security of property rights, in particular, are good not just for equity, but also for improved efficiency and economic growth.

Water is Vital to Most Agricultural Production

Water is becoming scarcer and less reliable in much of the world. Irrigation in combination with improved technology has induced huge rises in farm yields and thus both smallholder and rural labourers incomes, taking hundreds of millions out of poverty and reducing their vulnerability to poor rains. Small-scale, farmer managed irrigation schemes often provide the very poor with access to water for irrigation.

Rural Poverty | 2015 Targets | The Report | Assets | Technology

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