URUMAYA

Overall, while land ownership can provide security and empower small farmers, it is essential to consider the broader socio-economic context and potential implications for land distribution, market dynamics, and access to resources.

Mitigating the potential negative impacts of providing full land ownership or titles to farmers in Sri Lanka sustainably requires a multi-dimensional approach that addresses underlying socio-economic, legal, and environmental factors.

Comprehensive land reform: Instead of ad hoc programs, implement comprehensive land reform policies that prioritize equitable and just distribution of land, protection of land rights for marginalized groups (such as women, youth, and indigenous communities), and mechanisms for resolving land disputes fairly and transparently.

Supportive legal frameworks: Strengthen legal frameworks to ensure secure land tenure and protection of land rights for small farmers (This may include establishing clear and accessible processes for land registration and titling, as well as mechanisms for addressing land-related grievances and conflicts) and create enabling policy and legal environment to implement United National Declaration on the Rights of Peasant and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP).

Promotion of agroecology: Encourage regenerative farming practices, such as agroecology, that prioritize ecological resilience, biodiversity conservation, and community-based natural resource management. Provide technical support, training, and resources to small farmers to adopt agroecological principles and improve land productivity sustainably.

Access to financial services: Expand access to affordable and secure credit, savings, and insurance services for small farmers to reduce their vulnerability to indebtedness and financial risks. Develop innovative financial products tailored to the needs of smallholder farmers, such as microcredit schemes through cooperative and government banks, crop insurance, savings and loan associations, and provision of financial and technical assistance to capacity building.

Investment in rural infrastructure: Improve rural infrastructure, including roads, irrigation systems, storage facilities, and market access, to enhance productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, increase resilience to climate impacts, and increase farmers’ access and ownership to markets and value chains. Prioritize investments in infrastructure that benefit smallholder farmers and promote inclusive and ecological rural development.

Capacity building and extension services: Strengthen agricultural extension services and farmer training programs to build farmers’ capacity in sustainable land management, crop diversification, climate-resilient agriculture, and value-added processing through the invention and introduction of affordable appropriate technology. Enhance knowledge-sharing networks and farmer-to-farmer extension approaches to promote peer learning and innovation.

Community participation and empowerment: Encourage and ensure inclusive decision-making processes that involve small farmers, farmer organizations, local communities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in land governance and natural resource management. Empower communities to assert their rights, advocate for their interests, and participate in land-use planning and decision-making processes.

Environmental conservation and sustainable land use planning: Integrate environmental conservation objectives and principles of sustainable land use planning and agroforestry concepts into land reform and agricultural development strategies. Protect ecologically sensitive areas, promote reforestation and soil conservation measures, and incentivize sustainable land management practices that enhance biodiversity through policy incentives and market mechanisms.

Monitoring and evaluation: Establish robust and inclusive monitoring and evaluation systems to track the implementation and impact of land reform initiatives, including their effects on small farmers’ livelihoods, land tenure security, environmental sustainability, and social equity. Use evidence-based data and feedback mechanisms run with the participation of small farmers to inform policy decisions and adaptive management approaches.