Formalización de la propiedad rural y financiación agropecuaria: análisis del OSPR en los departamentos de Cauca y Tolima periodo 2014-2020

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to establish the relationship between rural land tenure formalization and agricultural financing, using the departments of Cauca and Tolima as case studies for the period between 2014 and 2020. Historically, Colombia has experienced significant inequality in land distribution and management, widespread informality in land tenure, and major barriers to accessing rural credit. These structural challenges have negatively affected agricultural productivity and food security. The primary issue addressed in this research is the limited relationship between land titling and the financial inclusion of rural producers. Although land formalization is recognized as a key requirement for accessing formal credit, barriers such as limited information, low borrowing capacity, and weak institutional presence in rural areas continue to restrict the overall impact of the Social Organization of Rural Property (OSPR) policy on agricultural financing. This research adopts a quantitative approach and applies panel data econometric models to information from the departments of Cauca and Tolima for the 2014–2020 period. The study analyzes land tenure formalization indices and the performance of rural credit over time to identify correlations between these processes and to understand the influence of this public policy in territories historically affected by violence and social exclusion. The results indicate a positive relationship between rural land tenure formalization and access to agricultural credit in the departments of Cauca and Tolima, supporting the theoretical framework of the OSPR, which considers legal tenure security as a foundation for economic inclusion. However, differences in statistical significance across the estimated models confirm that land formalization alone does not fully explain the behavior of rural financing, as access to credit depends on a combination of complementary factors. Therefore, this study concludes that public policies should be implemented in an integrated manner, combining land formalization with technical assistance, producer associations, and productive development strategies to transform land titling into greater investment opportunities and sustainable development for small and medium-sized agricultural producers.