Agriculture remains the main source of employment and livelihood for the large rural population of many transition countries, especially among the former Soviet republics. Accordingly, the World Bank continuously monitors the progress of land reform and farm restructuring in the region because of the potential impact of these processes on rural development and poverty alleviation in rural areas. The present study on Belarus is the latest addition to a long and growing series of World Bank publications on land reform and farm restructuring in the former socialist countries of Europe and Central Asia. The unique features of all these publications is their reliance on first-hand empirical information collected through extensive farm surveys of various rural constituencies. Analysis of survey findings enables the World Bank to base its policy dialogue with governments in the region on solid empirical facts, making the Bank's recommendations more credible and relevant. The survey findings in this volume will provide a platform for useful policy discussions with this country's government and supply international donors that are active there with essential information to design their strategic programs.

This paper first discusses recent economic developments through the first half of 2000, and then, provides an assessment of vulnerabilities in the Belarusian banking system. Dollarization in Belarus is also discussed. In this paper, the current business environment and the existing obstacles to reach these objectives are described. Agriculture plays a key role in the Belarusian economy. Finally, the lack of progress in agricultural reform, especially with respect to land reform and the development of private sector farming, is described.

This paper first discusses recent economic developments through the first half of 2000, and then, provides an assessment of vulnerabilities in the Belarusian banking system. Dollarization in Belarus is also discussed. In this paper, the current business environment and the existing obstacles to reach these objectives are described. Agriculture plays a key role in the Belarusian economy. Finally, the lack of progress in agricultural reform, especially with respect to land reform and the development of private sector farming, is described.

This study on Turkmenistan is the latest addition to a long and growing series of World Bank publications on land reform and farm restructuring in the former socialist countries of Europe and Central Asia. The present report combines an analysis of the 1998 farm survey overview of general agricultural policies and sectoral performance. Survey results are preceded by a sectoral review and a description of emerging legal framework for land reform and farm restructuring.

This study presents the results of the multi-country study for farm debt in five Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries - Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, and the Ukraine. It offers a comparative analysis of the level and composition of farm debt in these countries and reviews the major reasons for farm debt accumulation in the 1990s.

- What has been achieved in rural finance and institutional reform during more than a decade of transition and what challenges remain? - What are the special needs of South Eastern European countries to attract agricultural credit and finance to ...