roads, so that they could build their own homes with their own materials. The programme was a means of preventing the growth of slums which had been caused by the large-scale urbanization that had transformed Latin American cities and given rise to all kinds of social, economic and cultural problems. 58. Concerning living conditions in rural areas, he said that roughly 350,000 producers were receiving economic aid and low-interest loans as part of the Comprehensive Rural Development Plan. The beneficiaries of that aid also received technical assistance and training in management techniques. The Agricultural Marketing Institute regulated the market for foodstuffs by supporting prices and managing warehouse centres. The Institute was also encouraging the system of popular markets from which the most impoverished people benefited. E/C.12/1990/SR.12 page 9 59. The 1961 Agrarian Reform Act had not yielded all the results expected, and the total area of land distributed to peasants had been far less than foreseen. Act No. 30 of 1988 was intended to rectify that situation by creating more flexible legislation which authorized the expropriation of insufficiently utilized land so that it could be redistributed to those in need of it. The new law proposed to transform smallholders in~o fully-fledged owners through the system of agricultural usufruct which enabled a smallholder to obtain full ownership after 10 years. 60. Regarding the technical development of rural areas, the Colombian Farming Institute had created, as part of the Rehabilitation Plan, Regional Centres for Extension, Training and Dissemination which covered more than 400 municipalities. Furthermore, there were 23 experimental centres and stations which carried out research into ways of improving agricultural efficiency. 61. On the subject of public health, the Programme of Basic Health for All, which was part of the Plan for the Elmination of Absolute Poverty, placed 
**Analysis**
The text discusses various initiatives and programs implemented by the Colombian government to improve the living conditions and socio-economic development of rural areas, with a focus on agriculture, land reform, and public health. It highlights the distribution of land to peasants, provision of economic aid and training, and creation of infrastructure to support rural development.

**Category**
Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Health