- Land inequality in Venezuela has historically been high but the 2001 agrarian reform law has significantly improved the situation by benefiting around 2 million people and reducing land concentration.
- Retention of members in cooperatives has been a problem both in the case study and other cooperatives due to administrative issues, living conditions, lack of infrastructure and remote locations, income problems, and family strains.
- Living standards have improved for some with new housing and services in some Fundos Zamoranos near cities, but remain precarious in more productive areas and some earn less than before.
A looked back to the history of Land Reform in the PhilippinesMarysildee Reyes
A historical summary of the land reform program implemented in the Philippines
TO DOWNLOAD, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK: https://dlsharefile.com/file/315894325
A looked back to the history of Land Reform in the PhilippinesMarysildee Reyes
A historical summary of the land reform program implemented in the Philippines
TO DOWNLOAD, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK: https://dlsharefile.com/file/315894325
Admos Chimhowu highlights the need for land redistribution in Zimbabwe
Presented at 'Moving Forward with Pro-poor Reconstruction in Zimbabwe' International Conference, Harare, Zimbabwe, (25 and 26 August 2009)
The Role of Farmers' Tenure in Securing Loans: The Case of the Philippines' '...IJAEMSJORNAL
This study aimed at exploring the role of farmers' tenure in securing a loan, specifically the 'hiraman' agreement among farmers. A sample of 50 respondents was randomly selected and the data were collected mainly through a questionnaire. A descriptive research design was used to analyse and interpret the data collected. The findings revealed that hiraman agreements among farmers are common in a certain area of the Philippines. Most of the borrowers who joined this agreement are farmers who have a tenure as tenants, followed by the farmers who are registered owners/partly owners. It also revealed that there were no farmworkers/laborers that have been entered into this agreement as their role is primarily for the cultivation only, such as planting, growing, harvesting, etc. Furthermore, the study showed the unique characteristics of the agreement and the major reasons for the farmer availing of and securing this loan. However, farmers still encountered constraints during the agreement such as uncertainties in the legal rights of the borrower, and the unavailability of payment instalments. Hence, conducting sustainability training and seminars for resource efficiency, intensification of the subsidy programs, and increasing the presence of formal institutions in the areato help increase the farmers' income is highly recommended.
The eight-member National Commission on Farmers, chaired by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, was set up in 2004 by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to assess the extent of India’s agrarian crisis. This first report was meant to assist central and state governments in arresting the decline of farm incomes and abating farmers’ distress. The report provides an overview of India’s agrarian economy and discusses the causes and effects of the agri-crisis, both environmental and policy-based. Its recommendations include setting up knowledge centres for farmers, framing a code of conduct for contract farming, ensuring better water management, providing food security, improving crop insurance and introducing insurance that covers accident, death and medical expenses. These steps, the report says, must be taken immediately to avert further damage. And that we must take Jawaharlal Nehru’s advice in this often-quoted remark from 1948: “Everything else can wait, but not agriculture.”
Presentation pre-Baseline Assessment pressentation for Agri.pptxSadaam3
Capacity Need Assessment presentation.
Substantial and sustainable economic development in Somalia will be contingent on progress made in the sectors of (Inclusive Politics) and (Security and the Rule of Law).
Further consolidation of federalism to strengthen security, dismantling of internal market barriers to improve efficiency and transparency, improving the business and investment climate, strengthening rule of law, and increasing revenue collection and delivery of basic public services will all underpin economic development in the country.
Intention to answer the following questions
Where are we now?
Where do we want to go?
What is the best way to get there?
Admos Chimhowu highlights the need for land redistribution in Zimbabwe
Presented at 'Moving Forward with Pro-poor Reconstruction in Zimbabwe' International Conference, Harare, Zimbabwe, (25 and 26 August 2009)
The Role of Farmers' Tenure in Securing Loans: The Case of the Philippines' '...IJAEMSJORNAL
This study aimed at exploring the role of farmers' tenure in securing a loan, specifically the 'hiraman' agreement among farmers. A sample of 50 respondents was randomly selected and the data were collected mainly through a questionnaire. A descriptive research design was used to analyse and interpret the data collected. The findings revealed that hiraman agreements among farmers are common in a certain area of the Philippines. Most of the borrowers who joined this agreement are farmers who have a tenure as tenants, followed by the farmers who are registered owners/partly owners. It also revealed that there were no farmworkers/laborers that have been entered into this agreement as their role is primarily for the cultivation only, such as planting, growing, harvesting, etc. Furthermore, the study showed the unique characteristics of the agreement and the major reasons for the farmer availing of and securing this loan. However, farmers still encountered constraints during the agreement such as uncertainties in the legal rights of the borrower, and the unavailability of payment instalments. Hence, conducting sustainability training and seminars for resource efficiency, intensification of the subsidy programs, and increasing the presence of formal institutions in the areato help increase the farmers' income is highly recommended.
The eight-member National Commission on Farmers, chaired by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, was set up in 2004 by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to assess the extent of India’s agrarian crisis. This first report was meant to assist central and state governments in arresting the decline of farm incomes and abating farmers’ distress. The report provides an overview of India’s agrarian economy and discusses the causes and effects of the agri-crisis, both environmental and policy-based. Its recommendations include setting up knowledge centres for farmers, framing a code of conduct for contract farming, ensuring better water management, providing food security, improving crop insurance and introducing insurance that covers accident, death and medical expenses. These steps, the report says, must be taken immediately to avert further damage. And that we must take Jawaharlal Nehru’s advice in this often-quoted remark from 1948: “Everything else can wait, but not agriculture.”
Presentation pre-Baseline Assessment pressentation for Agri.pptxSadaam3
Capacity Need Assessment presentation.
Substantial and sustainable economic development in Somalia will be contingent on progress made in the sectors of (Inclusive Politics) and (Security and the Rule of Law).
Further consolidation of federalism to strengthen security, dismantling of internal market barriers to improve efficiency and transparency, improving the business and investment climate, strengthening rule of law, and increasing revenue collection and delivery of basic public services will all underpin economic development in the country.
Intention to answer the following questions
Where are we now?
Where do we want to go?
What is the best way to get there?
Don't Bank on It: Farmers Face Significant Barriers to Credit
Access During Economic Downturn.
Farmers Face Delays, Denials and Bureaucratic Roadblocks in Accessing Farm Loans.
Farm credit is the backbone of American agriculture. During the recent economic downturn, America’s family farmers faced significant barriers to accessing farm credit, which endangered their economic security and the stability of rural communities and food production in America. This national survey of farm credit counselors and farm advocacy organizations demonstrates the
critical, growing and overlooked gaps in credit availability for our nation’s farmers at a time when they need it most.
Educación Movil y TICS Para El Desarrollo (ICT4D) - Proyecto PilotoAlfonso Sintjago
Esta presentación explica un proyecto piloto en la República Dominicana donde 6 dispositivos móviles, cada uno con 12.5 gigabytes de información educativa abierta (REA) fueron entregados a varios administradores para crear Entornos Personalizados De Aprendizaje. Los participantes fueron parte de un curso de 16 semanas en los cuales crearon recursos y utilizaron los dispositivos en formas innovativas. Una de las metas del proyecto era ver como podemos utilizar los dispositivos móviles inteligentes de bajo costo mas eficientemente. Los dispositivos utilizados costaron solo $60 por persona mas $15 por SD card.
Mobile Phones and Development - Preliminary Results - Pilot Project (Dominica...Alfonso Sintjago
Following the distribution of $50 android devices with 12.5 GB of educational resources (most OER) in an SD card, this presentation highlights some of the initial results and hopes to start a conversation about ways in which we can more effectively use mobile devices in developing settings.
Augmented Reality and Education - Infographic (Leapfrog Initiatives)Alfonso Sintjago
Augmented reality (AR) technology is the result of using convergence technology to greatly expand our functional reality, i.e. that which is in our expanded environment, that we know about, and that we are able to act on. The technologies making this possible include, smartphones, GPS, phone cameras, always-on and always-available data networks, etc. A crude, but widespread, example of AR technology is Google Maps. Google Maps makes it possible for us to know about places of interest that are in our environment, or an environment relevant to us, far beyond that which our biological senses can reveal. Other examples include the services provided by apps such as Layars and Wikitude that provide detailed data on objects that we experience, Google’s recently released AR game, Ingress, among many other projects. AR is likely to be one of the most transformative technological developments that we will see over the next decade because it radically changes the world that we live in, how we perceive that world, and how we interact with it and other individuals in it. With affordable HUD displays (ex. Google Glass) this technology will take on a whole other dimension.
Robotics and Education - Infographic (Leapfrog Initiatives)Alfonso Sintjago
Robotics have reached a level of sophistication that it is wholly reasonable to start seeing them in a range of environments where they will interact with humans. The classroom is no exception. In fact, remote controlled robots have already been introduced in classrooms in South Korea and Japan. In South Korea robots are used in primary school classrooms to teach English (Learn more about EngKey). Some of these educational robots are remote controlled by teachers operating out of the Philippine Islands. In Japan, there are known instances where teachers have used remote controlled robots to teach courses in classrooms far away from where they live (E.g. Hiroshi Ishiguro). There are a range of tasks that robots can take over in classrooms, ranging from classroom management to engaging students. With the development of other related technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robots can conceivably even become involved in instruction itself.
Mobile Apps For Evaluators (Top App Categories for Evaluators in Android and ...Alfonso Sintjago
Ignite Session - AEA 2013
Mobile Apps For Evaluations
Top App Categories for Evaluators in Android and iOS
A YouTube Video of the presentation can be found at the end.
This presentation was created as Prezi to share with the Minnesota state legislation and for a grant application in social justice and collaborative leadership
2. Land Inequality During the 1960 Agrarian Reform period Venezuela continued to have one of the highest levels of land inequality in Latin America, according to the Gini Index Since the 2001 Law of Land and Agrarian Development this situation has improved dramatically The 2001 measure has benefited around 2 million people and reduced land concentration in Venezuela In both the case study and in other FundosZamoranoscampesinos and impoverished urban workers have obtained access to land previously denied to them under other administrations. The limits placed on the re-sale of land and the temporary nature of the CartasAgrarias represent an attempt by the government to prevent a re-concentration of land in the hands of larger producers in the future.
3. Problems of Cooperative Membership Retention of members – both in the case study and in other cooperatives Some cooperatives are close to the minimum legal limit Membership fell due to: Administrative breakdown of the fundo Initial living conditions at the fundo – buildings initially lacked electricity, running water, no basic services. Lack of infrastructure and remote location meant members found it difficult to retain other occupations outside the Fundo, and some were forced to leave Income problems among cooperative members – government was not always timely in awarding credit Strained family relationships – due to inadequate income and prolonged time away from families VuelvanCaras preparation is inadequate Leads to administrative breakdown Members have no previous experience in cooperatives and differing degrees of commitment Difficulties in decision making Misallocation of resources by the cooperative’s administrators Increasing reliance on hired labor To compensate for the decline in membership Is the decrease in membership numbers linked to the ability of members to continue their pre-reform income generating activities and the proximity of the fundo to an urban center? HOWEVER: having only a few members means cooperatives are able to work together better and reach the targets set out in the Plan Emergente The shift to cattle production will decrease the number of members needed in the cooperatives Cooperatives could also benefit by offering membership to some of the more experienced and efficient hired workers.
4. Improvement in Living Standards In FundosZamoranos close to Caracas the government has: built solid tile roof houses Provided individual houses with their own personal decorative gardens Provided electricity, refrigerators, gas kitchens, televisions, furniture, recreation areas and sometimes even cable television. Allocated a bus to transport the children to school In contrast, at the more productive Fundo Alejandro de Humboldt living conditions remain precarious The slow improvement in infrastructure has required the constant mobilization of the vocero and members of the fundo Some members of FundosZamoranos have improved their living conditions as a result of the agrarian reform whereas others are actually earning less than they did as salaried workers. The majority of members of the Fundo Zamorano Alejandro de Humboldt were either unemployed or earned a small salary as a wage worker FundosZamoranos have provided employment to a substantial sector of the unemployed rural population in an effort to reduce poverty levels in the countryside. Sense of brotherhood and camaraderie at most of cooperatives – people work, eat, sleep, hunt and celebrate together as equals
5. Availability of Credit Benefited private and public producers Fundo Alejandro de Humboldt: Credits awarded for both animal and crop production Governmental credit institutions set low interest rates Are lenient in forgiving farmers if they are unable to repay their loans Government has increased rural investment and funding for credit institutions in the past few years Private producers said access to credit was the greatest improvement in the agricultural sector since Chávezcametopower Credit has beenawardedtosmall and mediumscaleproducers and allowedthemtopurchase vital inputs HOWEVER, thegovernment’s credit policy has been criticised for being too lenient in its distribution and follow up of loans Failures in crop production at the fundo have been excused by the government for an array of different reasons and loans have been pardoned. Misuse of government credits for personal enrichment Producers were confident government was improving accountability and would soon crack down on those who misused the system As of 2008, despite billions invested in agriculture there have only been limited returns in terms of agricultural production
6. Conflict between Members, Production Units and Technicians Conflict between different parties is common, not just in the Fundo Alejandro de Humboldt but in FundosZamoranos across the country Lack of an extension agronomist living at the Fundo = major cause for mistrust and misunderstanding High level of distrust of government officials and strangers due to intimidation from previous owners Lack of support from local police Delays in the implementation of measures promised by the government
7. Fear of Expropriation Chávez’s agrarian reform has increased fear of expropriation among both large and medium sized producers. The regime has increasingly moved towards socialism, sparking fears of expropriations among many medium sized producers who had obtained land under the 1960 reform. Fears about abolition of private property and the transformation of land titles into temporary usufruct rights of production. Many owners face difficulties in proving their legal ownership of land due to Fake land titles Inadequate documentation of their property Widespread feeling that government expropriations are arbitrary, and that the government could designate any land titles as illegal Uncertainty about land ownership and government price controls has decreased large land owners’ incentive to invest in their property Also difficulty in finding reliable workers Regional agrarian authorities have the final say about what constitutes adequate production levels Fear that these regional authorities will, in reality, mainly serve the interests of the central government
8. Ideas for the Improvement of the Fundo Zamorano Alejandro de Humboldt Have an agronomist or other government worker assigned permanently to the fundo. Some NDE and FundosZamoranos have a resident extension agronomist Having extensionists diminishes but does not eliminate communication problems between cooperative members and government workers. Improving road conditions is imperative for the adequate functioning of the fundo and coordination between cooperatives and government entities. A means of communication such as radio transmitters or improve cellphone reception would increase communication and reduce the number of hours lost by production units as they coordinate their efforts. A reorganization of the fundo a redistribution of land to active and functioning cooperatives as well as increasing cooperative membership numbers would increase the sustainability of the fundo. There continues to be a large amount of idle or unproductive land in the fundo, particularly, within the land originally given to currently inactive production units. Some cooperatives may be attempting to reconcentrate land at the fundo.
9. Further Research Need for further study of other FundosZamoranos A continuation and update of this study A new study of the Venezuela agrarian reform, taking into account the changes that have taken place since the most recent studies (Wilpert, 2005; Soto 2006). An updated study of the sustainability of agrarian production cooperatives in Venezuela.