2006年-世界发展银行全球_Moldova_-_Agricultural_Policy_Notes___Policy_Priorities_for_Agricultural_Development_Volume1_Land_57页_342kb

Summary of Report No. 36366-MD: Moldova Agricultural Policy Notes – Land Reform and Market Development

Core Content

This report evaluates the progress of land reform in Moldova, the economic impacts of these reforms, and the development of land markets. It outlines policy recommendations for improving the efficiency of land use and market functioning in the country, with a focus on aligning Moldovan agricultural practices with those of market economies.

Main Objectives and Scope

• To analyze the status of land reform in Moldova.
• To assess the economic impacts of land reform on different types of farms.
• To evaluate the current state of land markets and their potential for improvement.
• To propose a new concept for land re-parceling pilot projects.

Key Findings and Main Points

1. Land Reform Progress

• Land Ownership: Land reform in Moldova has largely been successful. Private land ownership increased dramatically from nearly zero in 1989 to 67% of all agricultural land, and to 80% of land used by producers.
• Farm Reorganization: Over one million rural people have received individual land plots, leading to a tentative recovery in agricultural production since 2000.
• Fragmentation: Despite progress, the structure of farms remains fragmented, with 50% of agricultural land still controlled by large corporate farms, which are more inefficient than individual family farms.
• Comparison with Other Countries: Moldova's success in land reform is better than that of Russia and Ukraine, but still far from the typical market economy pattern where corporate farms control less than 2% of land.

2. Economic Impacts

• Productivity: Small individual farms are more efficient and productive than large corporate farms, as indicated by total factor productivity (TFP) analysis.
• Market Structures: Market economies typically have a mix of individual and corporate farms, with the former being the dominant form.
• Farm Size and Efficiency: There is no single "optimal" farm size; efficiency is determined by the farmer's circumstances and preferences.

3. Land Markets

• Sales and Leasing: Land sales and leasing markets are developing, with sales markets showing rapid growth and leasing being more common for adjusting farm sizes.
• Transaction Costs: High transaction costs and lack of information are barriers to efficient land market functioning.
• Tenure Security: Secure tenure and clear information on land rights are essential to promote investment and land transfers.

4. Land Re-Parceling

• Pilot Projects: Land re-parceling should be implemented through small-scale pilot projects to test effectiveness and gather stakeholder feedback.
• Voluntary Participation: Re-parceling should be based on voluntary participation and market principles, not government intervention.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: A strong monitoring and evaluation component is crucial for the success of any re-parceling initiative.

Recommendations

• Avoid Government Intervention: Government should not favor large corporate farms in land re-parceling initiatives.
• Improve Land Markets: Focus on reducing transaction costs, increasing information availability, and ensuring tenure security.
• Support Leasing Markets: Leasing is a practical alternative to land sales, and should be encouraged to improve land allocation and efficiency.
• Enhance Data Collection: Improve the quality, coverage, and availability of data to support better policy decisions.
• Develop Pilot Programs: Implement land re-parceling pilot projects with a focus on small peasant and private family farms.
• Coordinate with Other Markets: Land reform should be part of a broader strategy that includes improving agricultural markets, credit systems, and government services.

Conclusion

Moldova has made significant strides in land reform, leading to increased private ownership and tentative agricultural recovery. However, the current farm structure remains inefficient due to the dominance of large corporate farms. To align with market economies, Moldova should focus on improving land markets and supporting the development of small, family-run farms through re-parceling pilots and policy reforms. The success of these initiatives depends on voluntary participation, secure tenure, and the development of transparent and efficient market mechanisms.