Public Policy Analysis on Colombian Rural DevelopmentJun 13th, 2012 | By riparra-pena | Category: Linking Farmers to Markets
Rafael Isidro Parra-Peña S., Policy Analyst of DAPA’s Market Unit presented the document “Poverty, Income Gaps and Rurality in Colombia (Pobreza, Brechas y Ruralidad en Colombia)”, co-authored by Liliana Alejandra Ordoñez and Camilo Andrés Acosta, students of the Economics Department of the University of los Andes, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
As noted in RIMISP’s official press release, Mr. Parra-Peña’s work highlighted the following:
“In investigating urban-rural regions and male-female poverty gaps, Parra-Peña’s study considers important questions underlying rural Colombian poverty; how can rural poverty be converted into a positive situation?, and, what can break the ties between rurality and low human development? Tackling these questions allowed the author to develop an important point of view towards overcoming rural poverty.
Fundamental, underscores Parra-Peña, is farmer’s access to land, which is indelibly tied to redistribution policies but without which human development indicators will inevitably remain low. He stresses, as complementary actions, the need for efficient public administration at the municipal level in order to provide greater access to public services, better infrastructure, and more investments in social projects that may improve human development. Parra-Peña likewise highlights the importance of education as another determining factor, in as much as ‘more education (indicates) less poverty’. Here, the role of rural mothers is underscored, in that they carry out the dual duty of imparting knowledge to the children as well as motivating them to attend school.”
Rafael also acknowledged the support of Mark Lundy (leader of DAPA’s Linking Farmers to Market section), Bernardo Creamer (IFPRI/CIAT), Absalón Machado (PNUD) and Fernando Mesa Parra (Universidad del Rosario, Colombia) whom made major contributions to the final document.