A/HRC/43/44/Add.1 together to build value networks in order to address common challenges and pursue common opportunities. 51. Although digitalization has positive features, e-payments, including subsidies for the agricultural sector, can increase the marginalization of vulnerable groups, subsistence farmers and people living in rural and remote areas who do not have access to the Internet. The Government needs to ensure that low-income populations are supported in the process of applying for subsidies and allowances in the digitalization era, without barriers (see A/74/493). D. Land rights 52. The land reform that took place in Azerbaijan between 1994 and 2003 is considered one of the most successful agrarian reform processes in the world. According to the 1996 Law on Land Reform, the purpose was the “creation of new relations of land ownership on the basis of the principles of economic independence and social equality, development of [a] market economy and entrepreneurial initiative, achievement of economic independence of the country, including providing the population with food and increase … wealth”.20 53. The land reform specified the allocation of land into State, municipal and private ownership. The first stage included the allocation of part of the land fund of collective and State farms free of charge to citizens according to legal documentation. The main responsibility of the government institutions was to provide the population with the necessary documents for owning land and create a list of requirements for obtaining land. The distribution of land was a peaceful and successful process. 54. However, over the years, many smallholder farmers were not able to survive from farming because of the challenges they faced. They therefore sold their land and moved into the cities to work in other sectors. In addition, the remaining land was divided into even smaller plots through inheritance. Currently, there is no clarity over land rights because many citizens do not register their land when they exchange property rights or when they inherit. 55. The irregularity regarding land rights affects women’s ownership of land as a result of cultural norms and beliefs, legal-administrative issues and undocumented land and houses. The actual transfer of property to male children and the dominance of land ownership by men limit the socioeconomic status of women who have low incomes, especially in rural areas. Such problems inhibit women’s ability to inherit or own property and claim property during a divorce. 56. Nowadays, owing to the revival of the agricultural sector there is a need for land consolidation and the establishment of new partnerships among smallholder farmers. Considering the sensitivity among farmers over the protection of their private property rights, historical stereotypes and their preference for individualism, such policies are not popular among farmers. Providing support and empowering smallholder farmers to work together could solve many of the problems of access to services, such as extension services, credit, machinery, seeds and, more importantly, access to the market, and enable them to compete with the big agribusiness firms. The Government should therefore provide workable and acceptable alternatives for farmers. That can happen only by including farmers in decision-making processes. E. Extension services and training programmes 57. Extension services to farmers is an important role of the Ministry of Agriculture. Skills and knowledge are central to increasing sustainable production, using new techniques to improve productivity. The Special Rapporteur visited the Azerbaijan State Agricultural University, located in Ganja, where she learned that some years ago there was not much 20 10 Law No. 155-IQ of 16 July 1996, available from https://cis-legislation.com/document.fwx?rgn=2778.