Rural poverty is one of the more persistent problems of less developed countries, and land reform is a frequently advocated solution. This paper examines the prospects for land reform both by itself and in conjunction with other policies. The prospects for a rural development strategy consisting only of land reform are not good. We find that any development programme must address more than just land tenure patterns if it is to have a significant impact on rural or urban poverty. However, even though land reform alone is not an adequate solution, it is an ideal framework within which other policies can be implemented. Land reform realizes its greatest potential when it serves as such a framework for other policies. © 1977.