The Issue of Land in Colombia and its Implications for the Development of the Agricultural Sector
Publicación:
Revista Palmas; Vol. 31 Núm. 2 (2010); 111-118
0121-2923
Revista Palmas; Vol. 31 Núm. 2 (2010); 111-118
0121-2923
Abstract
Land colonization in Colombia was never planned and has been the result of dispossession processes caused by the various forms of violence that the country has been cyclically subject to. In searching for lands to colonize, the population has cleared numerous forests and consequently affected the availability of water in flat lands that are suitable for agriculture. The country is long overdue in passing new regulations that acknowledges this reality on the poor use of the forestry reserves that have already been occupied by the population and in organizing the reserves that still remain in order to vigorously protect them. The use of large extensions of land for extensive cattle ranching is the main problem because of its inefficiency: only 26 million heads of cattle are maintained on 40 million hectares. The article proposes creative strategies to generate a land market in Colombia for lands that are hoarded by a few individuals and are kept idle. La colonización en Colombia no ha estado nunca planificada y ha sido producto de procesos de desalojo provocados por las distintas formas de violencia que en ciclos ha padecido el país. Buscando dónde establecerse, la población ha deforestado bosques y con ello afectado la disponibilidad de agua en las tierras planas con vocación agrícola. El país está en mora de promulgar nuevas reglamentaciones que reconozcan esa realidad del mal uso de las reservas forestales que ya ocupó la población, y organizar lo que queda de ellas para protegerlas con vigor. Porque existen tierras dedicadas a la ganadería extensiva, que ha resultado ser el verdugo del territorio por su ineficiencia: se mantienen 26 millones de cabezas de ganado en 40 millones de hectáreas. El artículo propone estrategias creativas para generar un mercado de tierras en Colombia, las cuales están acaparadas por unos pocos y se mantienen ociosas.
Land colonization in Colombia was never planned and has been the result of dispossession processes caused by the various forms of violence that the country has been cyclically subject to. In searching for lands to colonize, the population has cleared numerous forests and consequently affected the availability of water in flat lands that are suitable for agriculture. The country is long overdue in passing new regulations that acknowledges this reality on the poor use of the forestry reserves that have already been occupied by the population and in organizing the reserves that still remain in order to vigorously protect them. The use of large extensions of land for extensive cattle ranching is the main problem because of its inefficiency: only 26 million heads of cattle are maintained on 40 million hectares. The article proposes creative strategies to generate a land market in Colombia for lands that are hoarded by a few individuals and are kept idle.
Palabras clave:
sector agrario
usos del suelo
rehabilitación de tierras
utilización de la tierra
Colombia
sector agrario
usos del suelo
rehabilitación de tierras
utilización de la tierra
Colombia