H.I.M. words concerning land policy
``For those of you who possess the land and labour but lack
capital, we have made credit available at low interest. For those of you who
have the necessary finance but do not possess land to work on, we have, in
accordance with our 'Proclamation' which entitles every Ethiopian to ownership
of land, established offices in every province through which you may be able to
acquire land. Those who have neither land nor money will be granted land and
financial loans at low interest. For those of you who possess land, who have
financial resources and manpower,
we have made experts available to furnish you with the necessary guidance and
advice in your various undertakings.
Land Reform
The essence of land reform is, while fully respecting the principle of private
ownership, the landless people must have the opportunity to possess their own
land, that the position of tenant farmers must be improved, and that the system
of taxation applying to land holdings must be the same for all.
It is our aim that every Ethiopian own his own land, in implementation of this
principle. We have ourselves set the example by ordering that certain lands in
Arussi Province heretofore administered by our Ministry of the Imperial Court be
distributed to the tenants working on them, against payment by each man only of
the nominal fees charged for the transfer and the registration of this property
in his own name.
This has been the basic objective of virtually every modern programme of land
reform; this is the ultimate goal of the study now being undertaken by the
Committee of Land Reform.