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As James Bisco and Czech Conroy point out the asset issue is a key one. I am sure you are all aware of the work done by H. De Soto on this and the process difficulties faced by the poor in gaining such legal title (see the Mystery of Capital). There are clear policy opportunities here and much work has already been done in this regard. It would be interesting to see what the results of such work has been and to what extent gaining legal land title has actually aided the poor reduce their vulnerability. In S. E Asia there are (to some extent justifiable) fears that land titling can actually increase poor households risk by making them more vulnerable to the loss of such land becuase they now legally own it (as opposed to more traditional user rights) and can thus sell it. Recent work on poverty in the Mekong delta by AusAID suggests that landsales are increasing and that landlessness is the major economic source of poverty. What are other experiences in this regard ? Thanks Adam Folkard James BISCOE <<address removed>> wrote: Czech Conroy has commented on the availability of assets to the rural poor. An asset which most have some of is land. Would assisting farmers to have formal title of some degree to their land not be a good means of enabling the already available asset to become more economically productive and to attract investment into its conservation and enhancement thereby reducing both economic and agricultural risk together? Thank you James Biscoe 15/5/04 0845hrs Adam Folkard GMS Development Consultant
Please visit dfid-agriculture-consultation.nri.org.