Implications of Customary Land Rights Inequalities for Food Security: A Study of Smallholder Farmers in Northwest Ghana

Baslyd B. Nara, Monica Lengoiboni and Jaap Zevenbergen
Additional contact information
Baslyd B. Nara: Department of Real Estate & Land Management, University for Development Studies (Wa Campus), Accra Box UPW3, Ghana
Monica Lengoiboni: Department of Urban & Regional Planning & Geo-Information Management, University of Twente, Hengelosestraat 99, P. O. Box 217, 7514 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
Jaap Zevenbergen: Department of Urban & Regional Planning & Geo-Information Management, University of Twente, Hengelosestraat 99, P. O. Box 217, 7514 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Land, 2020, vol. 9, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: Inequalities in land rights exist globally, both in formal and customary settings. This is because land rights are either strong or weak, and held by various categories of people. The weaker variants of the inequalities tend to stifle tenure security, reduce land use, and threaten the food security of those dependent on the land for survival. This paper investigated the implications of customary land rights inequalities and varying tenure insecurity for food security among smallholder farmers in northwest Ghana. It identified the nature of rights inequalities, the number of rights and in whose possession. The research also assessed the kinds and nature of land rights as well as how such rights affect people’s farm sizes and subsequently farming output for ultimate food security. The data collection techniques were focus group discussions and interviews of key informants and key players in key organisations. Results revealed the existence of food insecurity among smallholder farmers (settlers/migrants) who have both fewer and weaker land rights as compared to landowners who possess numerous and stronger rights in the study area. Results also showed that weak and unequally skewed land rights lead to uncertain tenure durations and reduced farm sizes, which affects farmed area, farm output, food availability, accessibility and food security. Furthermore, farmers expressed the need to apply coping strategies to overcome the impact of unequal land rights. This research recommends further studies to design intervention strategies to better understand land rights inequalities and their implications. The outcome is expected to contribute to informing interventions to narrow these inequalities and reduce the implications that can later enhance food security.

Keywords: customary tenure security; land rights inequalities; smallholder farming; settlers; food security (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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