NEED FOR LAND REFORM IN THE URBAN AREA

QUESTIONS 1

WHAT ARE THE NEED FOR LAND REFORM IN THE URBAN AREA

INTRODUCTION

Land is a basic natural resources. It supports all human activities and it is from it that all other economic resources are derived.

It can hardly be renewed or increased without adverse consequences, and therefore must be judiciously and efficiently managed in a sustainable manner for the use and good of all.

None-the-less, property ownership is an effective urban development tool. Ownership motivates people and companies to invest in their environment by providing them with the long term security that tenant lack.

LAND REFORM: This is a process of regulating land and property development, use and conservation of land, the gathering of revenues from the land through sales, leasing and relaxation and the resolving of conflict concerning the ownership and the use of land.

NEED FOR LAND REFORM IN THE URBAN AREA

1)   It encourages sustainable urban development

2)   IT help to transform ownership right into long term leaseholds

3)   It help give government control over primary resources.

4)   It help to remove the pressure for short term monetization of land assets.

5)   It allow government to allocate spatial resources to meet on society’s broader needs in ways that are currently not possible.

6)   It help to establish a mechanism for land valuation

7)   It help to review pre-land use act and land tenure in existence in different parts of the country.

8)   It help to assist and encourages states and local government to establish an arbitration mechanism for land ownership conflict resolution.   

9)   It help to undertake any other activities that will help ensure an effective, simplified, sustainable and successful land administration.

10)               It help in legal modification which may be subject to intense debate or conflict.

QUESTION 2.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF POLLUTION IN THE RURAL AREA

POLLUTION: These occur when pollutants contaminate the natural surroundings, which bring about changes that affect our normal life style adversely. Pollutant are the key element of pollution which are generally waste material at different form.

The rural environmental pollution resulted mainly from farming, livestock, husbandry, township enterprises operation and residential pollution.

Environmental pollution can be divided into three (3) categories:

1. Agricultural pollution

2. Residential pollution

3. Industrial pollution

·        Agricultural Pollution referred to as the pollution caused by fertilizers, pesticides and mulches used in modern agricultural production.

·        Residential Pollution means pollution caused by infrastructure construction and backward environmental management in small town and rural settlement.

·        Industrial pollution: is caused by improper distribution of rural enterprises and inadequate pollution control.

Note: According to the first national census of polluting sources, about half amount of the major pollutions comes from agricultural sources.

QUESTIONS 3

EVALUATE THE ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF FINANCING OR PROVIDING LOAN TO THE RURAL AREA BY THE GOVERNMENT

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria has a population of more than 160 million – the largest in Africa and a fast growing economy. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. Contributing about 40% of GDP. The agriculture sector employs approximately two thirds of the country’s total labour force and provides a livelihood for about 90% of the rural population.

Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava, yam and cowpea – all staple foods in sub-Saharan Africa. It also a major producer of fish. Yet it is a food – deficit nation and import large amount of grain, livestock product and fish.

And for now there is substantial scope for an increase in irrigation which now covers only 7% of irrigable land. And by implementing the irrigation other inputs would substantially increase average yields for major staple crop.

WAYS BY WHICH GOVERNMENT PROVIDE LOAN TO THE RURAL AREA

1)   Value chain development programme

2)   Rural Finance Institution – Building Programme (RUFIM)

3)   Community – Based Natural Resource Management Programme

4)   Community – Based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme.

5)   Root and Tuber Expansion Programme.

6)   IFAD’S strategy in Nigeria

7)   Eradicating Rural Poverty Programme

8)   Agriculture and Community Development Project.

è VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: This programme takes a holistic and demand-driven approach to addressing constraints along the cassava and rice value chain. IT does so through an inclusive strategy, strengthening the capacity of actors along the chain. Specifically, the programme focus on:

1)   Developing agricultural markets and increasing market access for small-holder farmer to medium scale agro-processors.

2)   Enhancing smallholder productivity and thus increasing the volume and quality of marketable produce. By supporting small holder production.

è RURAL FINANCE INSTITUTION – BUILDING PROGRAMME (RUFIN)

1)   The objective of this programme is to strengthen microfinance institutions and establish linkages between them.

2)   The programme works to develop new alternative financial products, promote an improved legal, policy and regulatory framework, and establish linkage between the financial system and the rural production system.

è COMMUNITY – BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

1) This programme has made a community debit fund available to support local initiatives in sustainable livelihood improvement, natural resources management and the provision of small-scale community infrastructure. The goal of the programme is to improve the standards of living and quality of life of poor rural people.

2) The  major concern is to reduce tension and conflict by improving employment opportunities for young people and channelling their energies into the development of sustainable livelihoods and natural resources management activities.

è  COMMUNITY – BASED AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The programme targets a large section of the rural population, especially women landless people, nomadic pastoralist and small scale farmers and those with only marginal lands. It is design to empowers the groups to participate in development activities. The programme works to:

1)   Promote awareness and build capacity at public and private sector service provider to respond to the need of poor rural women and men.

2)   Empower poor communities to manage their own development and support vulnerable groups.

3)   Develop or upgrade safe water supplies, environmental sanitation, irrigation, and health and education facilities.  

è  ERADICATING RURAL POVERTY IN NIGERIA

The main goal at this programme is to reduce poverty. The current strategy for the protection of poor rural people includes efforts to strengthen:

1)   Access to credit and loan

2)   Participation in decision making

3)   Access to agricultural extension services

4)   Access to improved seeds and planting materials, farm inputs and tools.

5)   Traditional thrift, saving and insurance scheme.

REFERENCES

1. Bernstein, H. (2002). “Land Reform: Taking a long (er) view” Journal of Agrarian Change. 2 (4): 433.
2. Publication on Enabling poor rural people to overcome poverty in Nigeria.
3. A Publication of rural development institute. Securing land rights for the world’s poorest.