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Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Land reform can be an effective vehicle for addressing poverty and landlessness, especially in rural areas where these are prevailing conditions. For land reform to succeed, the land must be used in ways that contributes to improving the livelihoods of land beneficiaries. The literature over the past 2 decades largely focuses on the failure of land reform in South Africa. Little is known about the 10% of successful projects that exist. The argument of this research project is that it is equally important to analyse how successful land reform projects have redressed racial imbalances in land, reduced poverty, improved livelihoods, developed the agricultural sector to create jobs, and ensured food security. It is essential for the well-being of the country to find successful land reform models to implement. By critically evaluating successful land reform projects, important insights and lessons in building a more effective land reform and rural development programme in South Africa may be offered. The focus of the research is on the redistributive component of land reform, specifically the successful redistribution of agricultural land to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor. The research critically analyses the successful Harmony Trust land reform project located in the Koue Bokkeveld region in the Western Cape Province. The Harmony Trust project is a share equity project and farms profitably in a joint venture with a commercial partner, who also serves as the mentor. Livelihoods of the land reform beneficiaries have improved; for example, the beneficiaries were empowered, redistribution of benefits took place, and living and working conditions have improved.

This dissertation is a close study of a rice-producing region in the northeastern Japanese prefecture of Miyagi from 1890 to1912, centered on the leadership of local elites over agricultural development, social order, and political management of the countryside during a period of revolutionary change. In the context of fundamental transformations to the state, economy, and society, landlords and local officials assumed positions as intermediaries between village society and the prefectural and national governments, becoming the "middlemen of modernity" for rural Japan. Along with the celebrated projects of industrialization and the modernization of the military, agricultural development occupied a place of importance in the plans of the Meiji state (1868 to 1912), but it failed to attract the same commitment of government finances. With official intervention in farming improvement and rural villages limited to moral exhortations, it was local elites, not the national government, who assumed responsibility for the countryside. Miyagi provided a fertile ground for their activities, demonstrating the heightened need for improvement that came with the climactic and economic challenges endemic in northeastern Japan. The character of Miyagi leaders evolved over time, with changes to the rural economy in the 1870s, the local government system in the 1880s, and official interest in the organization of local society at the turn of the century pushing old elites out and drawing in new figures in their places. Unchanged, however, was the role of local actors as the principal architects of rural development. They set the course of agricultural improvement, determined its character, and linked farming in new ways with the central government. The processes of change often proved disruptive in village society, rekindling old conflicts and igniting new rivalries as different actors fought over the allocation of the costs and profits of expanded production. In the end, though, elites oversaw a transformation of farming and agricultural villages that was complete by the early years of the twentieth century.

This dissertation presents results from research on three development economics issues. In Chapter 1, I study the impacts of fuel subsidy reforms on the spatial dispersion of grain prices using a "natural experiment'' from Ethiopia---which removed fuel subsidies in 2008---and a highly disaggregated monthly grain price data from about 300 locations. I find that the removal of fuel subsidy substantially increased grain price dispersion and remote areas are particularly highly affected. Change in grain price dispersion resulting from high transportation cost is a key channel through which the removal of fuel subsidy could influence welfare. Farm households in remote districts have experienced welfare losses due to dampening of grain prices in their areas. In Chapter 2, I present evidence from a randomized control trial on the impact of in-service teacher training and books, both as separate educational inputs and as a package. I test whether there is complementarity between these education inputs. The results suggest that the provision of books, in addition to teacher training, raises student achievement substantially. However, teacher training and books weakly improve test scores when provided individually. The evidence suggests that it is pertinent to supplement teacher training schemes with appropriate teaching materials in resource-poor settings. In Chapter 3, I study the rural non-farm economy (RNFE) in Uganda and Ethiopia to understand the gender gap in access to and return from RNFE using panel household surveys. I find that female-headed households tend to have low access to and return from RNFE.

This thesis deals with the question of people's participation in rural development in Sri Lanka with specific reference to the district of Anuradhapura. When we consider people's participation in rural development it is essential to understand the meanings attached to the concepts of development, rural development, participation and decentralization. Therefore, Chapter 2 of this thesis concentrates on these concepts. The nature and degree of people's participation depends in great part on the socio-economic and cultural aspects of the people who live in the region or the area. Therefore, Chapter 3 deals with the significance of the rural sector in Sri Lanka and investigates income levels, nutritional status and employment, the village society, and the socio-cultural patterns of Sri Lanka. This chapter especially considers the socio-economic and cultural situation which effects people's participation in Sri Lanka. The importance of rural development is discussed in Chapter 4. This chapter explains the scope of rural development in Sri Lanka. In this case the chapter concentrates on the history of rural development, decentralization, and integrated rural development programmes. Also it describes the organizations which already exist in the rural sector in Sri Lanka. Chapter 5 discusses Anuradhapura district as a case study and it mainly deals with the situation and basic features, such as agriculture, economy, population, education and labour force. Also, it describes the administrative structure of the district with special attention to political structure, Kachcheri and divisions, other departments and the Buddhists temple. Institutional capacity and effective participation in Anuradhapura district is discussed in Chapter 6 in order to analyse the effectiveness of organizations in the district. To achieve this objective Chapter 6 discusses the integrated rural development project in Anuradhapura district and the reasons for people's non-participation in it. The thesis concludes that people's participation is an essential ingredient of successful rural development in Sri Lanka but there are a number of constraints. Some recommendations to promote the people's participation are given in the conclusion.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2006. / Title from title screen (site viewed on Feb. 5, 2007). PDF text: 156 p. UMI publication number: AAT 3218892. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche format.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: John Byrne, School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy. Includes bibliographical references.