Although opinions on impacts of land market transfers are sharply divided, few studies explore the welfare and productivity effects of land markets on a larger scale. This paper uses a large Indian panel spanning almost 20 years, together with a climatic shock (rainfall) indicator, to assess the productivity and equity effects of market-mediated land transfers (sale and purchase) compared with non-market ones (inheritance). The analysis shows that frequent shocks increase land market activity, an effect that is mitigated by the presence of safety nets and banks.

If 2009 was the end of the hinterland and the beginning of a new globalized forest era, 2010 was a year of pushback. Worldwide, the news was full of reports of forest communities and Indigenous Peoples pushing back at land grabs and shaping policy at the national and global levels, and of governments countering and trying to contain community rights. Some governments and private investors accepted or even embraced the new players at the table and began to promote fairer business and conservation models.

An interesting research carried out by AgroParisTech Students, and researchers from AgroParisTech and Terres d’Europe-Scafr. The interventions during the AGTER thematic meeting were articulated around the following points: 1. Duality of Ukrainian agriculture: micro-farming and agribusiness 2. Economic and social performance of different models of agriculture, future perspectives 3. The revitalization of agriculture through land reform Very interesting data to understand the real nature of agrobusiness and the efficiency of small-scale farmers.

Le Sénégal pays agricole essentiellement composé d’agriculteurs, de paysans est situé à l’extrême Ouest du continent africain avec une superficie totale de 196 720 km 2. La superficie totale cultivable est estimée à 3,8 millions d’ha soit 19 pour cent de la superficie totale.

Almost two-thirds of farming families from ethnic Ta’ang communities in Burma’s northern Shan State have lost land to the country’s powerful military, according to a new report.

The Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization, or TSYO, says 63 percent of farming families from the Ta’ang community in the area have had land confiscated by the military. The Ta’ang are also known as Palaung.

Initiative conjointe d'Inter-réseaux et SOS Faim, les Bulletins de synthèse Souveraineté alimentaire visent à produire une synthèse sur un thème lié à la souveraineté alimentaire, à partir d’une sélection de quelques références jugées particulièrement intéressantes. Ils paraissent tous les trimestres et sont diffusés par voie électronique.

Ce quatrième numéro (en pièce jointe au message) s’intéresse aux Organisations de Producteurs face aux pressions foncières en Afrique de l'Ouest.

[adapted from ActionAid] October, 2012- The report states that the importance of land to rural women goes beyond growing food. Having secure access to, and independent control over, land can mean the difference between, on the one hand, enjoying rights such as education and freedom from violence or, on the other, continual subjugation in society. ActionAid view security of land tenure for impoverished rural communities as a fundamental component of dignified, sustainable development and a crucial step towards reducing poverty and reducing inequality.

[via UN-HABITAT] How can we judge if a land tool is responsive to both women and men’s needs?

Despite progress on women’s rights, rights to land and security of tenure are not enjoyed equally by women and men in many parts of the world. This goes against international human rights, and also impacts negatively on households and the economy.

The report of the discussion that took place online in September 2012 is now online!!! (Special thanks to Andrea...) Check it in the attachement below. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information, we would be glad to recveive more feed back from you. Jai jagat!

The International Land Coalition (ILC) believes that a fair and effective monitoring of ongoing conversion and fragmentation of rangeland ecosystems is needed in order to provide a thorough understanding of the trends and their implications – and also to enhance informed and participatory decision making on land use and investments in rangelands, and on the trade-offs involved.

La Coalición Internacional para el Acceso a la Tierra (ILC) estima necesario un sistema de monitoreo eficaz y justo sobre la conversión y fragmentación de los ecosistemas de pastizales, para un mejor conocimiento de las tendencias y de sus implicaciones – así como para mejorar la toma de decisiones informadas y participativas sobre el uso de la tierra y la inversión en los pastizales, y sus ventajas y desventajas.

La Coalition Internationale sur les Terres (ILC) pense qu’un suivi raisonnable et efficace des conversions et de la fragmentation en cours des ecosystèmes de parcours est indispensable pour permettre une compréhension approfondie des tendances actuelles et de leurs implications, et également pour promouvoir une prise de décisions avisée et participative sur, d’une part, l'utilisation de la terres et les investissements dans les parcours et, d’autre part, sur les compromis qui en découlent.