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LSP Working Paper 12 |
Access to Natural Resources Sub-Programme |
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Tim Hanstad, Robin Nielsen and Jennifer Brown USA May 2004 |
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FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS |
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Livelihood Support Programme (LSP) |
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Cover photograph by Tim Hanstad
This paper was prepared under contract with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The positions and opinions presented are those of the authors alone, and are not intended to represent the views of FAO.
The Livelihood Support Programme
The Livelihood Support Programme (LSP) evolved from the belief that FAO could have a greater impact on reducing poverty and food insecurity, if its wealth of talent and experience were integrated into a more flexible and demand-responsive team approach.
The LSP, which is executed by FAO with funding provided by DfID, works through teams of FAO staff members who are attracted to specific themes being worked on in a sustainable livelihoods context. These cross-departmental and cross-disciplinary teams act to integrate sustainable livelihoods principles in FAO's work, at headquarters and in the field. These approaches build on experiences within FAO and other development agencies.
The Programme is functioning as a testing ground for both team approaches and sustainable livelihoods principles.
Email: [email protected]
Access to natural resources sub-Programme
Access by the poor to natural resources (land, forests, water, fisheries, pastures, etc.), is essential for sustainable poverty reduction. The livelihoods of rural people without access, or with very limited access to natural resources are vulnerable because they have difficulty in obtaining food, accumulating other assets, and recuperating after natural or market shocks or misfortunes.
The main goal of this sub-programme is to build stakeholder capacity to improve poor people's access to natural resources through the application of sustainable livelihood approaches. The sub-programme is working in the following thematic areas:
This paper contributes to the first thematic area by identifying issues that are central to consideration of land access in rural India and by providing suggestions for opportunities for positively impacting the livelihoods of the rural poor.
2. ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK: SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
Introduction: the limitations of tenancy reform
Tenancy markets: theory and comparative experience
Tenancy in India: a bit of background
The tenancy liberalization debate: the current status
Opportunities for donors and NGOs3.2 The untapped potential of land sale markets
The mixed bag reality of land sales markets
Land purchase as a mechanism for broadening land access
Land purchase programmes in India
Land purchase: opportunities for donors and NGOs
Restrictions on alienation of land3.3 Does size matter? A summary of the benefits of small plots
Small field plots
House-and-garden plots
Opportunities for donors and NGOs
3.4 Women and land: a need for multi-level transformation
The impact of gender inequality on livelihoods
The narrow path to women's land ownership
Toward an equitable future: opportunities for donors and NGOs3.5 Possibilities in panchayats: the challenges of local land management
Background on decentralization
Land-related functions of panchayats
Unknown capacity to meet land-related duties
Opportunities for donors and NGOs3.6 Education and advocacy: implementation of existing laws
Educating the public: the lesson of Operation Barga
Legal aid
Opportunities for donors and NGOs
4. MAKING RIGHTS REAL: A SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR DONORS AND NGOS
4.1 Rethinking tenancy
4.2 The untapped potential of land sale markets
4.3 Home gardens and other small plots
4.4 Women and land: a need for multi-level transformation
4.5 The possibilities in panchayats
4.6 Education and advocacy: implementation of existing laws