Two rural sectors : their characteristics and roles in the development process

It is offered as being particularly relevant to the problems facing densely populated countries like Egypt, but to a considerable degree the basic argument would appear to apply quite generally. To the extent that is sound it has obvious and important implications both in the policy area and for social science research. What is called for is a program that not only holds the line against poverty and excessive rural-urban migration in the manner of the pioneering Poor Laws of England, but also provides greater degrees of both security and hope to the people concerned, and especially to the younger generation among them. Particularly important for the implementation of such a program is the redistribution of relatively small amounts of appropriately located land. But this social welfare potential inherent in land reform programs should not be confused with the equally important objective of freeing most of the land for commercial agriculture wherein not equity nor privilege, but market efficiency, is the appropriate principle upon which land distribution should be based. The program should not be limited to the redistribution of land. In the transitional sector this needs to be reinforced by efforts aimed at creating a wider horizon of economic opportunity for the households concerned in the form of complementary non-farm activities wherein lies their only hope for an ultimate escape from the vicious cycle of poverty.