Land Reform beyond the Reformed Land: A Baseline Study of Unplanned Site Allocations in Brazil

Abstract

This paper brings to light some of the problems deriving from not systematically using regional planning as a strategic governance tool in land reform policy. With concrete examples from land reform sites in Northeast Brazil, we argue that factors leading to suboptimal results include the lack of a suited space for planned conjunct actions as a means to propel broader regional development. Empirically, the paper identifies causes of the meagre regional implications of the Land Bill Programme, a government initiative aimed to fight rural poverty associated with landlessness. As a policy implication, we argue that regional planning can be an efficient tool for the placement of land through land reform, which would require not only providing land loans, but also designing concerted actions that would benefit an entire region.

Notes

World Bank's Land Reform and Poverty Alleviation Pilot Project 4147-BR.

SAT stands for Subprojeto de Aquisicao de Terras (Land Acquisition Subproject); SIC stands for Subprojeto de Investimento Comunitario (Community Investment Subproject).

A Brazilian National Household Sample Survey census launched nationwide in 2000 showed that the main income source amidst land reform settlers changed to some extent from off-farm jobs towards agricultural activities. The census covered other regions of the country, resulting that their sample was mostly composed of INCRA settlers.