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DU.1/108-
15 July 2009
Press Release
Access
to Land and other Natural Resources by the Rural Poor in the Select
Asian Countries
CIRDAP-IFAD regional consultation begins
Dhaka, 15 July 2009: The CIRDAP-IFAD Regional Consultation on
‘Access to Land and other Natural Resources by the Rural Poor in the
Select Asian Countries’ was inaugurated today by H.E. Mr. Rezaul
Karim Hira, Minister for Land of Government of Bangladesh, at the
CIRDAP Headquarters in Dhaka. The regional consultation is part of
the CIRDAP study project funded by the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD). Four member countries of CIRDAP
namely, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines are taking
part in the study. 15 researchers and experts from the four
participating countries along with local academics and officials are
participating in the two-day consultation.
At the inaugural session, the Chief Guest, Rezaul Karim Hira,
mentioned in his speech that the Bangladesh government has launched
a flagship scheme to digitise
land-ownership records and carryout a digital land survey. This
would make the whole process of land management transparent and
accessible to the people. The government is also expected to set up
a land and water-body reform commission to redistribute khas
lands to landless farmers and fishermen. He appreciated CIRDAP and
IFAD’s initiative for carrying out this timely study.
Dr. Atiqur Rahman of IFAD said that land is a very dynamic and
critical issue for the developing countries and over the years it
has been sidelined because of political unwillingness to resolve
this issue. This current study is an attempt to generate enough data
and information on landlessness and the poor’s access to land, so
that monitoring becomes easier which will lead to effective land
reform measures.
Dr. Durga P. Paudyal, Director General, CIRDAP while welcoming the
distinguished guests and participants stated that International
forums on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development calls for ensuring
rural poor’s secure access to land and natural resources in
agriculture and other land based activities. He stated that the
rural poor in the participating four countries have been suffering
from multiple disadvantages in relation to access to land. Yet there
are several examples of good progress in local contexts, often
spearheaded by civil societies, and these are not consolidated and
presented in a coherent manner at the national level to seek the
right political support. He said that CIRDAP organised this Regional
Consultation to recommend a national and regional framework for
further enhancing access to land and natural resources in the CIRDAP
Member countries.
The consultation hosted by CIRDAP and IFAD is continuing with the
participation of FAO, International Land Coalition (ILC); Council
for Social Development, India; Land Watch Asia; STAR – Kampuchea and
Many other organisations, academics, rural development practitioners
and senior government administrations in Bangladesh. During the
technical sessions country papers will be presented and further in
depth discussion on relevant issues are expected in these sessions.
K.A.S. Dayananda
Director
Information & Communication Division |
