Access to Land Pilot (PACTA)

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The Access to Land Pilot Project, aims at supporting the acquisition of land, and formation of sustainable farm enterprises by self-organized landless, and land-poor peasant families. The pilot project will test a public/private partnership strategy, with the private sector lending for land purchases, and, public sector funds - through the project - supporting complementary investments, and technical assistance (TA) to improve the productivity of newly acquired properties. The components include: 1) TA, and legal assistance provision to rural producers. Consultant services will strengthen pre- and post-land purchase activities, to be conducted by local technical assistance units; and, legal assistance will support business promotion, and proposals preparation, as well as land market information, organizational skills, and farm extension; 2) private financing for land acquisition by producer groups, for fixed assets, and for working capital, while, complementary subprojects will support the development of viable enterprises, through investment grants, limited to forty five percent of the overall value of the farm business plan; and, 3) administrative costs, to cover project management, and coordination, under supervision of a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) team. An Advisory Board will implement feasibility studies, monitoring and evaluation, and, provide financial management, and reporting requirements.