Searching for Land Tenure Security in Africa

The principal aim of the book is to assess the relative efficiency of indigenous customary land use arrangements and state-imposed individual tenure in promoting agricultural production in Africa. It is based on eight case studies in seven countries. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the essential features of indigenous African tenure, given that it remains the dominant land use system in much of sub-Saharan Africa. This situation continues despite formal enactments under national law. Chapter 2 describes the methodological approaches adopted by the eight case studies to test a number of related hypotheses. The theoretical model is presented and the meaning of security of land tenure and its measurement in each of the case studies is defined. Data gathering methods and statistical analysis techniques are explained and relating to sampling strategy, particularly site and household selection are addressed. The case studies presented in chapters 3 to 10 summarize farm-level research undertaken between 1988 and 1990 by both the World Bank and ICRISAT. The countries examined are: Burkina Faso; Rwanda; Ghana; Kenya; Uganda; Somalia; and Senegal. The studies were focused on critical propositions about the relationship between security of tenure and agricultural development. The findings of the research are examined in the context of their implication for policy decision makers. Broadly stated they: cast doubt on the wisdom and cost effectiveness of large-scale, systematic programmes of compulsory titling for smallholders in rainfed agriculture; redirect attention to more incremental approaches to change in indigenous tenure systems; and suggest the need to redirect support of titling activities toward efforts focused on localities of particular need. (CAB Abstract)