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Table 4. Distribution of farm households by size of landholding,Nyaungdon Township, 1996.IrrigatedLandholding (ha) Rainfed Lower Upper Deepwaterterrace terrace(% of HH a )No cultivated land 48 44 51 190.01–1.0 16 13 15 241.01–2.0 21 22 22 252.01–3.0 6 46 103.01–4.0 6 8 5 94.01–10.0 3 8 1 1110.0 and above 0 1 0 2Total 100 100 100 100Average size of 1.77 2.53 1.71 2.48holding (ha)a HH = households.Table 5. Distribution of farm households by tenure status, NyaungdonTownship, 1996.IrrigatedTenure status Rainfed Lower Upper Deepwaterterrace terrace(% of HH a )Owned farms 98 93 99 95Tenant – 2 – 1Leaseholder 2 3 1 3Rented out – 2 – 1Total 100 100 100 100a HH = households.tion of the village and were generally submerged throughout the monsoon season.During the dry season, however, residual moisture in the soil allowed cropping ofrice, groundnuts, and pulses.About 93–98% of the farmers reported that they owned the land they farmedeither legally or de facto as in the case of common lands (Table 5). Absolute landownership in the country was vested in the state. Farmers, however, were granted theright to cultivate the land and reap its benefits. This right was supported by a certificatethat could be transferred from generation to generation. Since land ownershipwas not absolute, transferability through buying and selling was restricted. This renderedthe market for agricultural lands nonfunctional. However, illicit buying andselling of land were reported to exist in the villages at the rate of $60 ha –1 . A very416 Garcia et al