Minifundia in Agrarian Reform: A Colombian Example.

Methods used for correcting the problems of small farm units (minifundia) in Europe have proven inadequate in Latin America. Attempts to remedy these problems have been frustrated partially because of the heterogeneity of the small farm units found in Latin America; The term minifundia covers a number of distinct types of units whose characteristics, problems and possibilities for solution are very different. Moreover, many of the minifundia in Latin America differ substantially from those found in Europe. On the basis of several functional characteristics, this article suggests a typology for classifying minifundia in Latin America so that remedial alternatives can be more easily identified. From this classification one type has been selected, the dependent, for further discussion. By the use of a Colombian example, the article describes the socio-economic characteristics of several prominent forms of dependent minifundia and relate these characteristics to some of the remedial alternatives.