Report Examines Fragmented Ownership and Concentration of Rural Land in Colombia

The Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (Igac), Colombia’s national land registry agency, has unveiled its latest publication, “Figures on Land Concentration in Colombia: A Look from the Cadastre,” at the Bogotá International Book Fair. The report paints a stark picture of land inequality in the country, highlighting the fragmentation of rural property and its detrimental impact on productivity, social equity, and sustainable development.

A Nation of Fragmented Landholdings

With a total of 3,530,415 landowners and 3,631,560 properties nationwide, the report underscores the widespread fragmentation of rural land ownership in Colombia. This dispersion, according to Igac’s Deputy Director General Diego Carrero, hinders efficient production, perpetuates social inequities, and impedes the sector’s sustainable growth.

The Toll on Food Security, Economic Development, and Social Equity

The issue of land concentration, Carrero emphasizes, directly impacts food security, economic development, and social equity. It limits the growth opportunities for many farmers, trapping them in cycles of poverty.

Unearthing the Disparity: Departments with the Highest Land Concentration

The publication, structured into four sections, provides a conceptual and methodological framework for data collection, organization, and analysis. It offers a general classification at the property level and a detailed analysis of the distribution of rural property ownership at different scales. The departments with the highest rural land concentration are Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Meta, Antioquia, and Casanare.

A Call for Action: Addressing Concentration through Data and Policy

Carrero underscored the importance of discussing land concentration in the context of the Peace Agreements, emphasizing that peacebuilding must include sectors such as peasants, indigenous people, and Afro-Colombian communities.

The Igac, with its 88-year history and expertise in cadastral information, identified a lack of governance over cadastral data in October 2022, hindering informed decision-making. In many cases, information was incomplete, affecting policy formulation.

To address this issue, Carrero presented an Igac publication that aims to contribute from three perspectives: scientific, technical, and political. He stressed the importance of thoroughly understanding land concentration in Colombia to transform it. To this end, he announced the creation of an online viewer that will allow any citizen to consult municipal cadastral information at any time.

Key Findings: Land Concentration Not among Indigenous Communities

Carrero emphasized that the research shows that the problem of land concentration does not lie with indigenous people, as has been claimed. Rather, 59% of properties in Colombia, which are less than three hectares, occupy only 4% of the surface area, while 1% of properties concentrate approximately 41% of the country’s rural area. These data reinforce the need to implement a comprehensive agrarian reform in Colombia.

Viceminister of Rural Development: Agrarian Reform as a Path to Redistribution

Viceminister of Rural Development Lilia María Rodríguez, a special guest on the panel, highlighted the importance of the presented report and the relevance of the topic in the context of Labor Day.

Rodríguez stressed the need to dynamize agrarian reform policies, considering them fundamental based on the information provided by the Igac. She explained that having this detailed information is essential for the governance of a territory and the redistribution of land tenure.

The Viceminister underscored that Colombia faces one of the most shameful land concentration rates in Latin America, reflecting a total inequality in access to land. She emphasized the importance of using this information to promote an agrarian reform that allows for the redistribution of land, especially for peasants, indigenous people, Afro-Colombians, and Palenqueros.

Research Unveils Further Insights: Land Concentration in Frontier Areas

David Rojas, a researcher from the Igac’s Research and Prospecting Directorate, presented the results of a study that offers a detailed characterization of the fragmentation of rural land in the country and an estimate of the concentration of rural property ownership in different study areas. Rojas highlighted the relevance of having detailed information for the formulation of public policies, especially in the context of comprehensive agrarian reform.

The study revealed that in Colombia’s agricultural frontier zone, the land ownership concentration index is 0.87, indicating a high concentration. Rojas explained that these data are not only relevant at the national level but also need to be disaggregated for decision-making at the departmental and municipal levels.

The results showed that 10% of the largest landowners in Colombia own approximately 81% of the total rural property area in the agricultural frontier zone. In terms of departments, Valle del Cauca and Meta have the highest values of rural land concentration.