New irrigated land development is the largest component of ETI-GB. Newly developed land is meant to benefit smallholders not only through increased production area but also as a fungible asset for collateral and other securitization. That is only possible if owners have secure, recorded titles.
The programme will ensure that developed land is allocated equitably among the beneficiary community, and that landless and women-headed households receive a fair share in a secure and legally enforceable manner.
Types of land holding
In Gilgit-Baltistan, several types of land holding are relevant to ETI-GB:
- Barren land: fallow or uncultivated land. In Gilgit-Baltistan the term is often used for Khalisa land.
- Khalisa land: land under government ownership; state land.
- Shamilat Deh: common property owned by villagers, who have equal shares if the land is distributed and equal rights of use as defined in the wajib-ul-arz.
Why a new titling system is needed
ETI-GB aims to bring around 50,000 acres into cultivation. A modern land-titling system is needed so that farmers’ rights are established and maintained by law. Gilgit-Baltistan includes both settled and unsettled districts. Under ETI-GB, Ghizer and Diamer are unsettled, while Astore and Ghanche are settled. Lands have often been managed through informal and customary mechanisms, which can give rise to disputes. Updating and digitizing records allows more effective land management.
The institutional set-up for land titling and settlement in Gilgit-Baltistan has been incomplete compared with other provinces. The development of new irrigation lands therefore needs a credible system for classifying ownership, determining community members’ shares, and awarding titles. An Interim Land Development Regulation was envisioned in the project design, to be approved by the Gilgit-Baltistan Lands Reforms Commission and the Cabinet.
Computerized settlement and land titling
ETI-GB assists with servers, computers and related equipment at provincial and district level, and with software for computerizing land records and introducing a titling regime. Basic equipment for recording ETI-sponsored land development and issuing titles to beneficiary households is installed at provincial and district offices.
Digitized maps of land selected for irrigation development, together with beneficiary data and allocated parcels, are recorded in the new computerized system. District Revenue Administration provides a land classification and ownership-status certificate for each parcel before work starts on a scheme.
The government has approved a Land Titling Policy for ETI lands to be titled to beneficiary households. The Board of Revenue is implementing the titling process in line with that policy.