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Indian VP sees land reform as key to rural dev’t

07/06/2008

Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandman has found an ally in Indian Vice President Shri Mohammad Hamid Ansari in his call for the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp), which the latter describes as a vital cog in pursuing rural development and easing poverty.

Pangandaman said he is elated by Ansari’s remark during the inauguration last week of the special governing council meeting of the Center on Integrated Rural Development for Asia Pacific (Cirdap) in New Delhi, India.

According to him, it only shows that rural development and poverty alleviation are tied up with agrarian reform.

In his inaugural address, Ansari was quoted as saying: “Agrarian reform initiatives and rural development and poverty alleviation measures are inherently political in nature and, thus, policy-makers should ensure that the interaction of politics with policy is constructive and synergistic.”

“I hope our Congress will see it that way when it resumes its session this month and start deliberating on our move to have the Carp extended beyond this year,” Pangandaman said upon his arrival.

The DAR chief presided the special meeting among all ministers and/or senior officials on rural development and ambassadors of Cirdap member-countries. They discussed among others preparations of the 2nd Ministerial Meeting of Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific to be held next year in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Pangandaman was elected chairman of the Cirdap governing council last year when the Philippines hosted its 1st Ministerial meeting, during which a resolution was signed, expressing its support for the extension of the Carp.

Based on experience, Pangandaman said the road to rural development starts with agrarian reform, which has done a great job in mobilizing the farming sector into a potent economic force in the countryside.

He stressed that no rural development would ever take place without the participation of the major players – the farmers.

“It is here where agrarian reform excels. No other programs have ever succeeded in rallying our farmers to take part actively in any rural development efforts,” Pangandaman said.