Description

Within settlement programs, very small-scale farmers, farms lacking in development potential, refugees or farmers who farm in unsuitable areas (e.g. near or in urban areas) are relocated.

Settlement programmes may enable farmers to generate an adequate income and create long-term prospects in agriculture by giving them a new start. Farmer organisations and machinery pools can be established and, importantly, the means of production can be used in a more viable way. It is extremely important for settlement societies to share experiences with each other and with the farmers concerned. The integration of the new settlements into the existing administrative structures (regional authorities, advisory services, chambers of commerce, etc.) must be ensured.

Requirements

• A properly functioning country-wide administration and monitoring system with access to the relevant information and sufficient technical and human capacities for its design, implementation and monitoring
• Clear and coherent political strategy and targets for policy-makers and public authorities
• Clear responsibilities in public authorities
• Close cooperation and knowledge sharing with farmers' organisations
• Interest and willingness on the part of the parties involved to engage in dialogue
• Inventory of available land, including data on it's quality
• Jurisdiction or arbitration body with locally recognised authorities
• Participation of all stakeholders involved, e. g. science / research, agricultural advisory services, civil society, public and private sector (incl. farmers and their interest groups)
• Regulatory framework
• Respect for cultural landscape and traditions
• Property / land register / formal land rights

Possible Negative Effects

• Social tensions within the existing and / or new settlement structure due to a lack of consensus of interests between all the parties involved
• Existing structures such as public authorities, agricultural advisory services or the road network could become overburdened
• Emigration
• Nepotism and corruption