Measuring Equality in Farmland Distribution in Jordan
2003
Al-Rimawi, A.Sh (Jordan Univ., Amman (Jordan) Faculty of Agriculture)
The study aims to measure equality of farmland distribution through 1975, 1983 and 1997 Agricultural Censuses. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to examine the inter- and intra-variation in the distribution of holdings by governnnorate, and agro-climatic zones. Lorenz Curves and the associated Gini Coefficient were used to measure inequality of land distribution. The results indicate that inequality is high and has increased through agricultural censuses. Variations in land in farms were generally high within rainfall zones, and governorates. Lorenz Curves and Gini Cofficients showed that land distribution in the highlands is less equal than the Jordan Valley. Inequality gaps are larger in the less than 500 mm zones as compared to more than 500 mm zone. Policy measures need to be adopted to develop more efficient and eglitarian agriculture. Measures include; checking further fragmentation of land; improving supportive services, which can result in major productivity and income gains; promoting off farm employment for undersized farms to improve income distribution.
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