KEY POLICY ISSUES FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF HONDURAN AGRICULTURE THROUGH AGRARIAN REFORM

The points emphasized are those policy issues which the country confronts in establishing a system of agricultural economy which meets the general criteria laid down in the l975 Agrarian Reform Law. The general objective of the Honduran agrarian reform program is to transform the "agrarian structure into a system of ownership, tenure and exploitation of the land which will guarantee social justice in the country in addition to the incrementation of production and the productivity of the agricultural and fishing sector." The agrarian reform programs adopted in Honduras have not been attacks on private ownership of farm land as such; they are attempts to reduce the inequality of privilege and opportunity which have been inherited. Included in the discussion are the processes of agricultural development, individual or cooperative farms, and increasing employment in agriculture. It should be possible to institute productive cooperative programs in credit, marketing, and machine ownership for the small farmers in Honduras, as exemplified by the small farmers in the Monjaras area. If there are to be cooperative farms, it also seems feasible to assign each individual family enough land for a household garden and for the family to grow some corn. Agriculture development programs should make a determined effort to introduce cropping systems in southern Honduras which increase both production and employment per manzana of land.