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UNIT 1 SIGNIFIC NCE OF L ND REFORMSN RUR L DEVELOPMENT

Structure1.0 Objectives1 1 Introduction1.3 Land Reforms: Concepts and Meaning1 2 1 Definition of Land Reform

1.2.2 Approaches to Land Reform1.2.3 Interventions in Land Reform1 2 4 Dimensions of Land Refonn1.2.5 Scope of Land Reform

1.3 Need for Land Reforms1.4 Importance of Land Reform in Rural Development1.5 Major Contributions of Land Reforms1 6 Issues in Land Reforms1.7 Let Us Sum UP1.8 Key Words1 9 Suggested Readings1 0 OBJECTIVESAfter reading this unit you will be able to:

explain the meaning of land reform its scope and importance;understand the need of land reform in rural development;study the contributions of land reform in rural development; andidentify various issues concerning land reform.

1 INTRODUCTIONLand reform can be understood by taking into account the overall rural socio-economic structure of the country. The rural sector in India accounts for a largepoportion of the nativlial population out of which the overwhelming majority isengaged in agriculture and allied occupations. Although a large segment of thissector falls in the low income category yet they are a significant source of primaryproducts such as agricultural produce and minerals that are required by the advancedcountries also. In light of the significance of this sector in overall nation buildingmeasures have been undertaken by various governments to improve and empowerthis sector by means of several initiatives of land reforms.Land reform covers various issues. These include theoretical aspects such asmeaning and definition of land reforms its scope importance in rural developmentobjectives and approaches to land reforms and major contribution of land reformsin rural development.All these issues will be discussed in this unit.-Let us begin by explaining the meaningand definition of land reforms and also the reasons for its need.

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Land Tenure Systems andgrarian Structure 1 2 LAND REFORMS: CONCEPTS AND MEANINGHere. we will t y to understand the meaning and scope of land reforms followedby a study of approaches to land reform.1 2 1 Definition of Land ReformThere are different land types, methods of farming, history of land acquisition invarious countries, and general socio-economic conditions and political objectives ofthe respective countries that are related to land reforms. Generally, Land reform isdefined as the redistribution of property or rights in land for the benefit of thelandless, tenants and farm labourers. This is a narrow definition, reducing landreform to its simplest element. (Warriner, 1969) United Nations in 1951 floated aconcept known as land reforms. It defined land reforms as an integrated programnlewith main objective to remove the barriers for economic and social developmentthat emerged from deficiencies in the land tenure. Important features of landreform programme, were mentioned as following:1) Elimination of the traditional economic-political exploitative power structure in

rural society at large.2) Redistribution of surplus agricultural land which would lead to more extensive

utilization of factors of production specially land and labour.3) More rapid adoption of innovative technology and thereby increasing production

and productivity.4) Strengthening of motivation of the peasants for work and readiness to investin agriculture.It is observed that, the terms land reform and agrarian reform are often usedinterchangeably. Agrarian reform is a word derived from the Cold War period tocounter radical movements whereas land reform, involves improvements towardsland tenure and institutions related to agriculture. It urges the rural and developmentadministration to go beyond land redistribution i.e. supporting other rural developmentmeasures, such as the improvement of farm credit. cooperatives for farm-inputsupply and marketing, and extension services to facilitate the productive use of theland reallocated.Thus, land reform pertains to the restructuring of tenure ,

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by US occupation forces as alandlords were en1i:led to retain only about one

tare. The reform in Korea was carricd out ~ ~ n d e rhe threat of communistof the countr j. In Taiwan land reform was imposed byChina and therefore alienated

land reform usu:~lly entailed lhe transfer of rights to tenants withoutcove -in2 landlord tenancies in the Middle

ve due to stiff opposition from influential landowners. Attempts to implement

Europe and Asia, where tt1cl.e has 5een broad tradition of smal l - fmmoli< poly of land ownership stemmed from colonialIII~, ither from the sub.jer.:ion ot the indigenocs population, or from the use ofFrom 1910 ,) 1990, L,atin Amelican countries attempted

t iand reforms. Redistributive reforms in Mexico, Bolivia andi. n the trans for ma ti or^ of semi-feudal estates (haciendas), based on

large plantations, a process which is now being relaxed in favour of cooperatives.

O n the other hand, detailed production data1965-70 on land reform settlements formed from

Redistribution of W hite owned Landconcerned with correcting the imbalancepopulation: which controlled

complex, the restitution of 'land theft' remains a burning issue. However,

cti gue ib;F

Significance 0: andReforms in RurillDevelopment

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Land Tenure Systems nd current developments fall into our definition of land reform. For example, the decisionAgrarian Structure to restore the rights of former owners has been universal in the Czech Republic,Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. These may, or may not be landless tenants andfarm labourers . In the former communist bloc, land reform has a mixture ofobjectives: economic efficiency and the need to move to a market economy; toraise revenue from private property; the restitution of rights to former owners thatwere expropriated by the state; and social justice for farm workers. Nevertheless,the problems of land redistribution in former communist states have much in commonwith classical land reform programmes, even to the extent that they are opposedby the former land-holding elites in the state bureaucracy. A major advantage thatthey enjoy is that the cost of land acquisition for the state is minimal.

Check Your Progress 1Note: i) Space is given below each question for your answer.

ii Compare your answer(s) with the text.I What do you mean by Land Reforms?

2 What are the different approaches to study of land reforms?

1 2 3 nterventions in Land ReformThere are four main types of interventions in land reform, namely, land tenurereform, external inducements, external controls and confirmation of title.Land Tenure Reform: It is designed to adjust or correct the reciprocal propertyrights between proprietors, in response to changing economic needs (e.g. theestablishment of statutory committees or land boards to organize and supervise theuse of common rights and other interests; the conversion of more informal tenancyinto formal property rights; tenancy reform to adjust the terms of contract betweenlandlord and tenant).External Inducements: These are market-based incentives offered by governmentfor social and economic reasons and leading to the restructuring of existing propertyrights or the creation of new ones, e.g. the distribution of public lands; stateexpenditure on land reclamation and subsequent allotment as private property; statesponsored credits channeled by a land bank through cooperatives; support toinstitutions to administer the necessary land acquisition and distribution mechanisms.External Controls: These include prohibitions imposed by law on property rights(i.e. non-market measures), for instance: nationalization and collectivization; restitution;redistribution policies involving expropriation of land (with or without compensation)on grounds of excessive size, under-utilization, ownershp by absentee landlordsandor foreigners. By contrast, gradual redistribution policies operate e.g. through

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death duties. Other external controls can also act against redistribution, e.g. lawspreventing land fragmentation below certain minima.Confirmation of Title This is aimed to verify and secure land titles to those whohave already a demonstratable claim. It reduces doubt and contention and lays thefoundations for land reform towards qral development.1 2 4 Dimensions of Land ReformThe dimensions of land reform can be studied under two major categories. The firstone pertains to optimal redistribution of land to small agriculture producers andsecond one is related to institutional adjustments to formulate a structured landtenure policy.a) Redistributional Land ReformThe redistributional land reform aims to minimize accumulation of land holding witha particular group or social institution. It refers to transfer of land assets from onegroup, either the state or more often large private landowners, to either landless orsmall producers. It is seen that despite immense economic and administrativeinvestments in this kind of land reform, it has failed repeatedly to attain its objectives.Vast distributional inequities of land still exist where distorted markets continue toconspire against small agriculturists and rural areas are still poverty ridden.The redistributive land reform is based on two sets of beliefs. Firstly it can lead todirect equity gains and secondly, can clear productivity improvements. These providegreater security, more employment and results in income improvement. These inturn contribute towards better farm credit and improvement in national food security.b) Institutional Land ReformIt focuses on the various areas of institutional support to land reform, identifyingseveral important areas of assistance that possess the potential to improve agriculturalyield and economic value for both the government and the rural poor.1 2 5 Scope of Land ReformThe scope of land reform can be studied with reference to the following:a) Redistribution of land.b) Revision of land ceiling limit.c) Systemic restructuring of land involving optimal use of energy and water.d) Enable the small farmers to improve agricultural productivity of their land.

Significance of LandReforms in RuralDevelopment

1 3 NEED FOR LAND REFORMSThe need for land reform is felt due to the following reasons:a) It is an instrument of both direct and indirect poverty reduction.b) It results in greater agricultural asset ownership and improved income forsmall farmers.c) It increases employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.d) It ensures security and increased access to f q redit for small rural producers.e) It enhances agricultural incomes leading to increased demand for tradablecommodities and manufactured goods, stemming from both expanded agricultural

potential and a general increase in consumer demand.9

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Land Tenure Systems and f It sponsors greater household and national food security.Agrarian Structureg) It protects and strengthens the rights of indigenous small farmer groups.h) It strengthens the rights and well-being of women agricultural labour, leading

to greater gender equity.i) It provides direct support to vulnerable groups, including the old, the youth andthose affected by physical and mental disabilities.j It encourages the conservation and management of ecological balance thuspreventing encroa~hmenton common property resources such as forests and

pastures.k It reduces migration of rural unemployed segment of the population to urbanareas.

Check Your Progress 2Note: i) Space is given below each question for your answer.

ii) Compare your answer s) with the text.1 Explain the important dimensions for the study of land reform.

2) What is the need for land reform in developing society?

1 4 IMPORTANCE OF LAND REFORMSThe growing importance of land reform is supported by the following points:a) Enhanced Agricultural Asset Since land is one of the principle assets ofindividual and household wealth, land reform measures leads to increased

assets.b) Distributive Inequity Land ownership is often socially uneven i.e. somesocial segments possess large land holdings whereas others are left with either

very small strips of land or no land at all. Land reform aims at judiciousdistribution of land and promote equity.

c) Distribution and Poverty Unequal land distribution pattern is one of theprincipal cause of poverty in developing nations, leading to large extent ofpeople living below poverty line. Land reform measures corrects these inequalitiesby improving the per capita income.

d) Productivity Better managed and organized land distribution coupled withcontemporary agricultural production supplements yields; higher land and capitalproductivity.

e) Income The above benefits result in higher net income streams fromagriculture as compared with other possible forms of economic activity for therural poor.

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5 MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF LAND REFORMSributions of land reforms can be divided into following five areas:

Promotion of socio-economic equality in the rural population.Land reforms influence the basis of economic and political power in ruralareas.Increasing Income and Improving the Quality of Life of RuralPopulation: An improvement in the living conditions of the rural populationcan be achieved primarily by increasing agricultural production. Landmanagement reform measures in particular work as an incentive for productionenhancement, which in turn has a considerable effect on income. The feelingof security and the resulting willingness to work harder also increases; productionand income. When tenants are made landowners it saves them from payingrent and necessitates taking over the services and obligations that werepreviously carried out by the landlords. Furthermore, changes in distributionpattern mean generally only the redistribution of chances that cannot be ofreally much help until there has been increase in production.Employment Generation: Land reform measures results in increase in.employment opportunities. The small size of the farms is generally accompaniedby intensification in cropping and animal husbandry, by increase in the input oflabour, especially manual labour. The rise in purchasing power of people resultsin an increase in trade, transportation, and services, which decreasesunemployment. Breaking up large farms can, however, results in unemploymentof farm workers. Likewise, tenants may lose their land if the owners startcultivating the remaining land they are allowed to keep, particularly ifmechanization is introduced or increased at the same time. The laid off workersand tenants may, however, find employment in other fields like tractor drivers,pump attendants, etc.

) Positive Consequences for Agriculture Production: Production is directlyinfluenced by measures for improving land management. It is indirectly influencedby incentives affecting work performance and investments that ensue fromland ownership reform. The new farmers as a result of land reforms haLereason to work hard, and the large landowners try to make up for loss of landby intensive cultivation of the remaining land at their disposal. This will be allthe more successful and more intensive if the proper help is given by meansof the necessary services. The higher the level of development, the easier isthis outcome, and larger increases in production is definitely possible. Theeffects of the land reforms on the type of production are generally clearer.The transition from large to small farm; leads to a tendency to increase theplanting of crops that guarantee self-sufficiency, animal husbandry, multi-cropfarming instead of one-crop farming, and forming of annual crops instead ofperennial crops. The new farmers are also likely to have improved consumptioncapacity. Appropriate measure for promoting land management makes it possibleto avoid decrease in the share designated for the market and setbacks in thecultivation of export crops.Changes in Rural Investment: Capital generation is of great importance forthe agricultural sector due to its long-term effects on production and also forthe overall economy because of the boost for investments that finally furtherthe economic development. The land reforms lead to a shift in the methods ofcapital formation. As small farms pay few taxes because they are exemptedas the larger share needed for their subsistence is not counted and only a smallpercentage of the products are subject to sales and export taxes. On the otherhand; the chances of non-monetary capital formation increase. On the part of

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Land Tenure Systems and the years by investing labour on small improvements on the farm s. However,Agrarian Structure this is generally found only at the level of the individual farmers whereas theorgan izat iona l problems exist at the vi l lage level . Reform s aiming atcollectivization have better chances of succeeding in forming capital by meansof investing labour even at a higher level than the small level farmers.

1.6 ISSUES IN L ND REFORMSMajor issues related to land reform that needs to be given due attentions are:a ) Enhanced Agricultural Production and Food Security: Th e chronic shortageof food in South Asia not only brought misery to many people but was alsoconsiderably detrimental to the development process on account of import

requirements and the resulting dependencies. Even though, India has solvedher most crucial problems after good harvests and techno logical changes whichtook place with Green R evolution, one sho uld be aware that the supply situationis still unstable. One or two insufficient rainfall during the monsoon can stillchange thi picture: Hence effective land reforms measures coupled withtechnological advances in agriculture have to be implemented for ensuringgood agriculture yield and national food security.Optimal Utilization of Rural Workforce: The increased production ofagriculture, may b e able to m atch dem and of fo od for the huge population ofa develo ping society but is not sufficient to provide food secu rity. It brings fo odinto the market but not into the houses of the poor people who may not havemoney to buy foo d. To a large extent their poverty is the result of the lack ofjob opportunities, to provide income and purchasing power. Because of thegreater employment generation in agriculture sector, it is possible to findemployment, but they may not reach the needy. It is true that there are limitsin this sector. First and forem ost, institutional fac tors prevent m ore labou r frombeing employed in agriculture. The sam e applies to opportunities for employingpeople who are not needed in agricultural production to work for developingthe urban infrastructure. Even in the case of lack of funds for employmentgeneration in agriculture, food for work can be a good option for em ployment.

c ) Socio economic Equality amongst Rural Population: The present unequaldistribution of economic and political power is not only responsible for theunbalanced participation of the population in development until now, but forwidening the gap between the poor and the rich in the rural areas. Thisprocess leads to a polarization of the social groups, which annihilates theprospects of cooperation for econ omic and social developm ent. More equalitywould possibly create the political clima te for incentives to increase productionand employment, which can be achieved and maintained. The factors ofagricultural production such as employment of labour and equality are stronglyconditioned by the agrarian structure. The agrarian structure and the changesmad e in it will determine whether and how far development will achieve theobjective of the benefit of the whole rural population. Even after considera bleredistribution of land, especially in India, other steps need to be taken. Moreemphasis is needed on the real redistribution of landed property. The re are noappropriate farm sizes for all agricultural function s. Th e distribution of the

power of disposition over means of production of whatever kind and theseverance of landed property from economic and political power are moresignificant than land redistribution in the old style. Increasing agriculturalproductivity, at first regarding area, and then labour, will steadily become moreimportant than land redistribution. This will raise the question of the soda1organization in agriculture and of the organization of the farm units. Theagrarian organization which is required is one w hich encourages a c ombinationof production factors which is comp atible with their availability and w ith the1 2

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costs, creates incentives for productive labour performance, capital formation,and investments for all the members of the rhral society. To create thepreconditions for this is the major task for the agrarian structure and agrarianreform policy. This includes access to the necessary services for everyone sothat everybody can contribute towards the objective of increasing production.Organization of agriculture, which allows an increased labour input can alsoinclude the integration of animal husbandry on the farms and, thereby,simultaneously improve both income and food. One can imagine that forms ofjoint land management and animal husbandry could bring new aspects, especiallyfor the employment of labour.

d) Genuine Political Commitment and the Administrative Foresight: Landreforms have faltered at many places because they were opportunisticallyconceived in order to mobilise support at a critical time in the process ofgovernance (or an aspiring government). Because of the difficulty of sustainingsupport for redistributive reform, a short-sharp-shock treatment may benecessary for success. This assumes that the treatment that has been carefullyprescribed, is simple to administer, adequately communicated, reasonably freefrom loopholes. It needs to be administered by a bureaucracy that is adequatelyprepared to keep in view per-household costs of land acquisition and settlement,that are financially feasible and replicable, and proper monitoring of the progresswith land transfer.

e) Inadequate Administrative Capacity for Land Reform: large, widely-deployed cadre of well-trained field staff is essential to inform the people oftheir entitlements and to facilitate the legal processes of land acquisition anddistribution. The number of staff involved vary with the type of reform. InPhilippines, a tripartite partnership between government, the NGOs and thepeople s organisations has provided many of the field staff. Even quasi-marketmeasures have high transaction costs. related issue is that of adequate landvaluation, survey and public land tenure records. In areas where these do notexist, or have been destroyed, landowners can easily frustrate the process ofland acquisition.

f Access to Land Water and Other Resources: For the countries in whichit is necessary to redistribute landed property, maximum ceilings for land fixedby law is suggested. During the process of distribution of land the weakestgroups of the population should be taken into consideration in particular, andcooperatives should be established so that the desired improvements inproductivity actually occur.g) Regulation of Control and Management of Forest Land Waste Landand Water: This is to be done in such a way that the public interest andespecially environmental protection are upheld, while, at the same time, thelegitimate interests of the local communities are taken into consideration. Thepopulation should be made aware of the danger of erosion and also informedabout the ways and means of its control also.h) Adequate Utilization of Barren Land: This kind of land should be used tosettle people who are looking for land. Provision of proper infrastructure andextension services by the governments will ensure the permanence of suchmeasures. Settlement projects should thus be regarded as a supplement to, andnot a substitute for, the measures of agrarian reform. In some countries, thereis considerable inequality among the various regions. The governmentsshould help level out the differences between poor and rich, as well as between

the regions with a good and a proper infrastructure by means of properand adequate investment programmes. It is also important thatdevelopment programmes be drawn up for integrating towns and their ruralenvironment.

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Land Tenure Systems andgratian Structure i) Participation of the Population: Rural development can only be achieved bythe motivation, participation, and organization of the rural population at everylevel. As a foundation for effective participation, the governments should removeobstacles which stand in the way of the rural population in freely joining andorganizing groups of their choice. In particular, they should promote and supportthe creation of farmers' and workers' associations and cooperatives at local,regional, and national levels. The rural population should have the opportunityto participate in development institutions, and take part in deciding, implementing,and evaluating development projects, especially those concerned with ruralemployment. Various social, economic, and cultural service institutions needfinancial support and training for their functionaries and it should be donewithout interference in their autonomy. The young people should be especiallymobilized for rural development activities.

j) Decentralization of Decision Making Process: In order to ensure that therural population make a contribution to the development programmes at theplanning and implementation stages and provide a regional perspective, it isnecessary to decentralize the decision making process. One of the most importanttasks of the local government authorities is to educate and train disadvantagedgroups so that they can have a greater share in the life of the community andin the development process. In the wake of land reforms, cooperatives of thenew farmers should be funded which should supervise the observance of thetenancy regulations especially with regard to allocation of land and waterrights. Loans and inputs should also be controlled by organizations of the smallfarmers and beneficiaries of the reforms.

k) Women Empowerment in Rural Development: Women have to be fullyintegrated and given opportunity of acquiring knowledge and skills, and thusensure their upliftment and empowerment. The government should also removethe legally based discrimination of women in inheritance rights; give themequal access to land, livestock, and in other means of production; make itpossible for them to participate in business activities; and guarantee them aright to membership and voting in labour organizations, credit associations, andother similar organizations. The number of women in training and extensionprogrammes should be increased, especially in positions from which they havebeen excluded until now. The contents and subjects of training and extensionprogrammes should be expanded so that the role of women in production,processing, and marketing can also be taken into account. To achieve equalparticipation in public institutions, the women's operative activities should bepromoted. To achieve this goal, it will be necessary to create a system toremove the obstacles hindering the participation of women in schools, healthservices, employment, and development programmes n general. Training facilitiesof equal quality for girls and women should be established and made attractiveby offering scholarships. These institutions should be followed up by possibilitiesof earning an income with the guarantee of an equal salary for equal work.Training possibilities for women are especially important not only in the fieldsof agriculture and in non-agricultural gainful employment, but also in the sectorslike health, nutrition, children's education, and family planning. It is necessaryto make sure that, during the transition from a traditional economy to themodem technologies, the negative implications for women are minimized.

1 Making the Essential Inputs Markets and Services Accessible: Ruraldevelopment is hindered by the insufficient availability and utilization of inputs.It is observed that only specific groups of farmers employ modem and yield-increasing technologies. By affecting the price policies and by providing otherincentives, the governments should encourage the small farms to increase theutilization of inputs. To that end, local institutions have to be established andall of the farms and local groups should have equal access so that they can

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participate in all their activities. It is of crucial importance that the capitalgoods are available at the appropriate time to make the input packageavailable.Technological and Economic Research: The scientific and technologicalresearch should be coordinated with social science studies in order to understandthe socio-economic implidations of technological change. Especially studiesand innovations, which minimize ecological disturbances are worth promoting,as well as studies on cheap building technology for building houses for the poorin the rural areas.Development of Auxiliary Agricultural Activities: Increased agriculturalproduction and equal income distribution create a mass market and an effectivedemand for industrial products and services. Also, industrial products andservices are necessary for rural development. In order to promote the overalldevelopment of rural areas, steps should be taken so that industries areestablished in the rural regions. Tax incentives, especially for small and mediumindustries can be of much help in this regard. These measures will becomemore attractive for investors when more public institutions established in ruralareas. Especially household industries offer numerous possibilities, e.g. inorganizations of the cooperative industrial units. The government can promotetheir establishment by making funds available and by establishing vocationaltraining institutes, providing relevant information, and supporting marketnetworks. Rural work programmes, can offer the opportunity of earningadditional income for example, at the same time of developing infrastructureespecially during the periods when there is not much work in agriculture. Suchmeasures should be integrated in the general development plans and beimplemented with the people collaborating in the planning process. In someregions, there are areas that can be used to grow forests for achieving bothecological balance, as well as for providing fuel, wood, and fodder. Fisheriesand aquaculture can also improve the income of small farmers.Education Training and Extension: School education is a fundamentalneed, not only for the development of a human being, but also for modernizingthe rural economy. Free primary level education should be given top priority.Education is important for imparting knowledge that will finally help in increasingproductivity and income of people. In order to achieve this goal in full measure,research and extension have to work simultaneously. Schools should be equippedwith plots of agricultural land so that agricultural skills and knowledge can beacquired through research. Moreover, possibilities of training in the fields ofnutrition, agriculture, farm management, and cooperative skills should be created,and knowledge and skills for taking up an occupation in a non-agriculturalsector like construction work, and repairing implements should also be imparted,with particular attention to using local material.Demand for In-service Training of Rural Development Professionals:The personnel from the government institutions at various levels should begiven training on regular basis particularly with regard to the special requirementsof rural development and the problems of the poor sections of the population.In the agrarian sector, there is a great demand for intermediary-level extensionworkers, where people from the villages should be trained and sent back tothese villages. Successful agricultural development requires collaborationbetween planners, rural educators, extension officers, and officials from therural organisations in order to coordinate their activities. In particular, farmersshould participate in the planning of reseach so that it complies with theirspecific needs.Regional Cooperation amongst Developing Countries: The developingcountries should examine the possibilities of close cooperation among themselves

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and Tenure Systems andAgrarian Structure in various fields of rural development and the support of the industrial countriesshould also be sought from time to time. Flexible terms for allocation; the

assumption of domestic-currency-costs and current expenses; the remission ofdebts and increases in food aid as compensation for temporary decreases inproduction during land reforms are important steps in this regard. It is also tobe ensured that food aid does not bring about a reduction in the effortstowards domestic production.

Note: i) Space is given below for each question for your answer.ii Compare your answer(s) with the text.

1 Illustrate the principal advantages of implementing Land Reform.

2 What are the problems faced by developing nations towards implementationof land reforms?

1 7 L T US SUM UPLand reform can be understood as the redistribution of property rights related tolahd for the benefit of the landless, tenants and farm labourers. There are four basicapproaches to study land reform and these are 'Land for the tiller' in Asia and theMiddle East redistribution of estates, Latin America and Africa, redistribution ofland and finally de-collectivization in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.There are four main types of interventions in land reform, namely, land tenurereform, external inducements, external controls and confirmation of title. Landreform has two main dimensions. Redistributional land reform aiming to minimizeaccumulation of land holding with a particular group or social institution, takes theshape of transfer of land assets from one group, either the state or more often largeprivate landowners, to either landless or small producers. Institutional land reformis the second dimension, which focuses on the various areas of institutional supportto land reform.The need for land reform is felt because of being an instrument of both direct andiadirect poverty reduction, resulting in improved income for small farmers, increasingemployment opportunities in the agricultural sector and making available of farmcredit for small rural producers. There are other reasons as well such as increaseda ricultural incomes leading to increased demands for tradable commodities andmanufactured goods, greater food security, protecting and strengthening the rightsof indigenous small farmer groups, empowering women agricultural labour leadingto greater gender equity, providing direct support to vulnerable groups, including theold, youth and those affected by physical and mental disabilities and encouraging theconservation and management of ecological balance and preventing encroachment

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on common property resources such as forests and pastures. The importance ofland reform can be understood in terms of enhanced agricultural assets lead ing toequality in land distribution and enhancing agriculture production. Enhanced productionfurther provides allied employment for rural people and helps in reducing poverty.There are certain areas where we can visualize Contributions of land reform foroverall socio-economic development of the society are visible in the promotion ofsocio-econom ic equality n the rural population, enhancement in econom ic and politicalpower in rural areas, improvement in the quality of life of rural population, andchanging pattern in ru ral @v estment. There a re still some gray areas wh ich haveto be stressed upon in order to make land reform a success in the developingsociety like India. These areas are enhanced agricultural production and foo d security,optimal utilization of rural workforce, socio-economic equality amongst ruralpopulation, genuine political commitmen t and the adm inistrative foresight, adequateadministrative capacity for land reform, access to land, water, and other resources.

Significance of LandReforms in Ruralevelopment

1 8 KEY WORDSLand Reform Redistribution of property or rights in land for thebenefit of the landless, tenants and farm labourers.Land Tenure Reform Adjust or correct the reciprocal property rightsbetween proprietors in response to changingeconomic needs.External Inducements Market-based incentives offered by governmentfor social and economic reasons and leading tothe restructuring of existing property rights or thecreation of new ones.Confirmation of Title Verification and securing land titles to those whohave a demonstrable claim.Redis tribu tional Transfer of land assets from one group, either theLand Reform state or more often large private landowners, tothe landless and small producers.1 9 SUGGESTED RE DINGSLong, N. 1982), Introduction to the Sociology of Rural Development TavistockPublications, London.Warriner D. 1969), Land Reforms in Principle and Practice Clarendon Press,

Oxford.Lehm ann, D. 1974), Agrarian Reform and Agrarian Reformism ed.), Faberand Faber, London.Kuhn en, Frithjof 1982), Man and hnd An Introduction in to the Problems of

Agrarian Structure and Agrarian Reform Verlag Breitenbach Publishers,Saarbrucken Germany).Hayami, Y., Quisum bing, M.A .R. and Adriano, L.S. 1990), Toward an Alternative

Land Reform Paradigm: A Phil ippine Perspective Ateneo de ManilaUniversity Press, Manila.Singh, R. P. 1987), Sociology of Development in India Discovery PublishingHouse, Delhi.