They may have no legal rights to the land they farm, or they may work as hired labour on large farms. Low incomes and rural poverty are often the result. Redistributing land to small-scale farmers can do much to reduce their poverty. When rural families have land, and secure control over that land, they are likely to grow more food and see their incomes rise.
Land security can mean food security.
Dividing large farms into smaller units often means that more food is produced per hectare. This is happening in a number of countries. In India, the states where poverty has fallen the fastest are those that have implemented land reforms. Ethiopia has transformed a feudal land system into family farming. Land reform can increase both employment and income.