To disentangle the issue concerning which dimensions of land rights, among security, tradability and pledgeability, affect agricultural outcomes, this paper exploits a unique partial land rights entitlement programme in Thailand, which guarantees only security, allows a limited access to credit, and prohibits any land sale. Based on an instrumental variable strategy, I find that the entitlement increases (1) second rice but not major rice productivity, (2) land use intensity, and leads to changes in (3) land use pattern, (4) land-related investment, and (5) better soil quality.

ABSTRACTED FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This report deals with land concessions in Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand – a much contended topic which leads discussants from issues such as land ownership and utilization to social structures, human rights and beyond. Overall, this report aims to examine changes in relative competitiveness in selected tradable commodities of Thailand and whether they are impacted through increases of land concession in selected countries in the subregion.

ABSTRACTED FROM INTRODUCTION: Many of the economic, demographic, and social changes animating land disputes in Vietnam are also sweeping across other countries in East Asia. The aim of this Report is to provide comparative insights into land-taking disputes in three East Asian countries—China, Indonesia, and Cambodia—that are relevant to Vietnamese conditions. It is not the intention of this Report to provide a comprehensive account of land-taking disputes, but rather to identify trends in dispute resolution.

This paper attempts to contribute to the understanding of the impacts of secure rural agricultural land rights on labour structural transformation from agriculture to non-agriculture as well as on urbanization, with a specific focus on Thailand. Using province-level panel data and instrumental variable strategy, partial land right entitlement (known in Thailand as SPK4-01 titling) is found to have a positive impact on labour movement towards the non-agricultural sector. In particular, approximately 27 per cent of this impact can be explained by enhanced farm productivity.

This LEGEND bulletin takes stock of some of the recent experience in legal empowerment. The result is a kaleidoscope of approaches operating at different levels, but pursuing broadly converging agendas.

Cutting 1,014.5131 hectares of land in Chouk district of Kampot province from Economic Land Concession of First Biotech, and reclassifying 903.1266 hectares as state private land for granting ownership donation to 366 families who have actual land occupation and cultivation, and reserving 111.3865 hectares as state public land.

Reclassifying 7,472 hectares as state private land in Kulen-Prumtep Wildlife Sanctuary in Siem Reap province for agro-industry investment under lease or concession condition.

Determining 7,472 hectares as sustainable use zones in Kulen-Prumtep Wildlife Sanctuary in Siem Reap province, and granting the land for rubber plantation investment to Excel Castor Plantation Co., Ltd.

Reclassifying 7,359 hectares as state private land in Sro Yaong commune of Kulen district in Preah Vihear province for rubber plantation investment.

Reclassifying 739 hectares as state private land in Raksmey Samky commune of Oaral district in Kampong Speu province for Trees plantation investment.

Cutting 321.1255 hectares of land in Techo Chrey Bak village, Techo Akphivath commune, Chouk district of Kampot province: 78.7187 hectares cutting from 2002 Forest Cover, and (2) 242.4068 hectares cutting from Economic Land Concession of First Bio-Tech Agricultural (Cambodia) Co., Ltd, and reclassying 272.7255 hectares as state private land for granting donation to 121 families, and reserving 48.4 hectares as state public land.

Cutting 212.5183 hectares of land in Chouk district of Kampot province: (1) 105.3696 hectares from Economic Land Concession of Virtus Green Plantations (Cambodia) Pte, Ltd; and (2) 107.1487 hectares from Economic Land Concession of First Bio-Tech Agricultural (Cambodia) Co., Ltd, and reclassying 197.6002 hectares as state private land for granting donation to 115 families who have actual occupation and cultivation, and reserving 14.9181 hectares as state public land.