Towards poverty alleviation in developing countries: An empirical study of the impact of land tenure reforms in Kati, Mali.

Post-colonial land tenure reforms in emerging countries have partly aimed at poverty reduction through equitable land access. However, the poverty rate keeps rising in rural and peri-urban settings in Sub-Saharan Africa dominated by agricultural activities. This article reviews land tenure reforms in Mali, from the year 2000 to 2017 regarding poverty alleviation and evaluates their impacts on indigenous smallholder farmers, using multiple linear and logistic regression models and local experts' elicitations. The results indicate that the advent of land titles as the only definitive evidence of land ownership, following the reforms, has generally weakened customary land management. Smallholder farmers face several barriers to obtaining land titles, limiting equity in land access and security. This has paved way for land markets marred by irregularities and resulted in colossal loss of agricultural lands, which are the main source of rural livelihood. Thus, the reforms have not yielded the intended poverty reduction outcomes. The study recommends that land transfers must be authorised by a single institution, represented at the various administrative levels, which issues an authentic and incorruptible document using appropriate technology. Moreover, since pro-poor provisions in the reforms usually lack implementing decrees in Mali, political will is key to achieving equitable land access and security.

Rice farmer's poverty and its determinants: evidence from Dogofiri village of Office du Niger zone in Mali / A pobreza dos agricultores de arroz e seus determinantes: evidências da aldeia de Dogofiri na zona do Office du Niger, Mali

ABSTRACT: The aim of this research was to contribute to a better understanding of rice farmer's poverty of Office du Niger (ON) in Mali at village-level. Data were collected through survey with 110 head family farms in the village of Dogofiri. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the main determinants of poverty. Results indicated that the factors of physical capital and human capital as well as government policy have a significant influence on the poverty of family farms through production, age, family size, education and health support, agricultural credit and water fees. Policies aimed to improve the family farm's income and boosting rice production to alleviate poverty ought to be based on these factors.

RESUMO: O objetivo desta pesquisa é contribuir para uma melhor compreensão da pobreza dos produtores de arroz do Office du Niger (ON), no Mali, ao nível das aldeias. Os dados foram coletados por meio de pesquisa em 110 propriedades familiares da aldeia de Dogofiri. Os dados quantitativos foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva. Modelos de regressão linear múltipla foram utilizados para analisar os principais determinantes da pobreza. Os resultados indicaram que os fatores de capital físico e de capital humano, bem como a política governamental, influenciam significativamente na pobreza das propriedades familiares por meio da produção, idade, tamanho da família, educação e apoio à saúde, crédito agrícola e taxas de água. Políticas destinadas para melhorar a renda da agricultura familiar e aumentar a produção de arroz para atenuar a pobreza devem basear-se nesses fatores.