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This article explores the link between demographic pressure and inter-ethnic conflicts. Relying on a mixed-methods approach applied to the paradigmatic case of the Cauca region of Colombia, we argue that demographic pressure can play an important role in explaining a recent wave of conflicts between indigenous, mestizo peasant and Afro-Colombian communities. We find that increasing population density within indigenous territories (resguardos) increases the probability of conflict, and that this effect is most acute in resguardos with limited agricultural area. We also describe the complexities of claims and strategies linked to these conflicts and the impact on social relationships and livelihoods. We advocate for a more holistic understanding of land struggles, one that moves the discussion beyond territorial recognition for indigenous peoples and engages with the multiple challenges ethnic communities are facing, including demographic pressure, land scarcity, environmental fragility and endemic poverty and marginalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land trusts in the U.S. play an important role in preventing the loss of farmland to development. Farmers seeking affordable land may benefit from these conservation efforts. Yet the distribution of these benefits across farmer groups is unclear. This study asks: To what extent are land trusts meeting the needs of farmers and gardeners from marginalized backgrounds? Interviews with land trust staff and focus groups with marginalized farmers and gardeners in New England, USA reveal discrepancies in how diversity and land access are discussed. Access to adequate, affordable land was a serious concern among farmers and gardeners, yet few land trusts had programs to increase access for diverse populations. Land trusts approached diversity, equity, and inclusion work by making limited commitments, pivoting to social class, and avoidance due to perceptions of mission drift. These findings have significant implications for who benefits and who is excluded from private farmland conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving productivity is an important channel for satisfying household food needs through food availability. Increasing the productivity of small-scale farmers is linked to a number of factors, including land access, labor, chemicals, fertilizers and so on. Most farmers resort to expanding their cultivated areas to increase production because of insufficient financial resources available for purchasing inputs during agricultural seasons. This situation, combined with increasing pressure on land, does not favor agricultural production and, by extension, food security. This study therefore assesses the impact of different modes of access to land on agricultural productivity. Regime-switching multinomial regression techniques were used to account for endogeneity bias due to observed and unobserved factors. The results of the study show that access through free loans, tenancy and sharecropping negatively affect agricultural yields. The counterfactual analysis reveals a positive gain estimated at 509.9 kg/ha from land access by landowners. If the lenders were landowners, their gain would be 396.6 kg/ha, whereas the farmers would gain 485.1 kg/ha if they were landowners, and similarly the sharecroppers would gain 389.8 kg/ha if they were landowners. It is clear from these results that improving agricultural yields depends on securing land and requires the establishment of an effective land ownership system. This research impacts land ownership policies, which need to be revised to address customary rights and reduce inequalities in access to secure land. It highlights the way land tenure security drives agricultural advancements and offers actionable recommendations for policy improvements on food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sago, the other source of sugar production need to be pursued in Indonesia, as Indonesia is highly dependent on sugar cane. This study aimed to analyze the production of liquid sugar based on sago by enzymatic method. The characteristics of liquid sugar made from sago has met with the standard provisions of Indonesian National Standard (SNI 01-2978992) except for the parameter of color. However, the color of sago liquid sugar is acceptable to consumers and market. The liquid sugar produced from sago could reach 0.6 to 0.8 liters per kg. If the sago is obtained from around 50,000 hectares of sago plantations and converted into liquid sugar, then around 600,000 kiloliters of sugar will be produced, or equivalent to 27% of the total national sugar production. The feasibility study showed that the sago liquid sugar business was profitable, which might be seen from the BCR value of 1.16, NPV Rp 58,754,955.64, PBP of 2 years 11 months, and IRR of 34.73%. Even though sago has a great potential, but the development still faces various problems such as unproper sago cultivation, difficulty to access sago land, limited mastery of farmer technology, and unestablished farmer institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The role of education in abolishing cultural practices that encourage gender inequality needs consistent evaluation for inclusive, responsive policy development and implementation in a dynamic society. Eliminating masculine gender hegemony may result in attainment of international commitments like gender equality and poverty eradication. Reexamining the role of education in reducing gender inequality in patriarchal societies can highlight critical issues needing policy actions for attainment of sustainable development goals. The objectives of the study were to examine effects of education on marital and family life, income and access to land resources by male and female, as well as the effects of education on girl child education. The hypotheses that guided the study were: parents' education attainment increases girl child education opportunity; education attainment reduces male-female income gap and education attainment increases women access to land. The study was conducted in Southwest Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to collect primary data from 720 households using a well-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Pearson Correlation tests. Results showed significant disparity among men, women, girls and boys education attainments. Significantly, male have more access to land and other resources than female. The work discussed implications of the existing gender disparity despite efforts to bridge the gap and noted effects of education in reducing the gaps and ensuring gender equality. The paper is optimistic that terminating gender inequality as education policy can significantly improve girl child education, reduce girls' marriages, improve marital life, increase females’ income and access to information as well as land resources.

The existing literature has extensively explored the causes of farmer–herder conflicts in Ghana. However, there has been limited investigation into the relationship between royal hegemony over customary lands and the persistent nature of farmer–herder conflicts in the country. This study contributes to the understanding of agrarian conflicts in Ghana by examining the interconnectedness of cultural and social practices of land access with the intractability of farmer–herder conflicts in Agogo. The study utilised a qualitative research approach, involving 33 participants recruited through maximum variation purposive sampling. Data was gathered through interviews and focus group discussions. Inductive thematic analysis revealed that social practices of land access hold greater influence than legal provisions, granting significant power over lands to traditional authorities in Agogo. We argue that the on-going intransigence of traditional rulers regarding land access, coupled with the persistent resistance from smallholder farmers through attempts to evict Fulani herders, as well as the resistance demonstrated by the Fulani herders themselves, are key factors contributing to the intractable nature of farmer–herder conflicts in Agogo. This study emphasises the need for a deeper understanding of the cultural and social dimensions underlying land access practices and their impact on farmer–herder conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background Access to land by Women is a topic that is considered as the property rights issue that is prominence around the World. Land is important for the economy, politics, livelihood, culture and development of the people. Goal and Objectives This study specifically assesses the situation of women's land rights ownership in Tarime District and the effects of socio-cultural factors influencing women's rights to land ownership in Tarime District. Methodology: This study adopted mixed method research design. The design allowed the study to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The target population for the study were household heads, women and government officials dealing with land. The study applied random sampling to select a sample size of 109 respondents who were the heads of households. To get qualitative data, six (6) key informants for interviews were selected purposively who were the ward land committee members, the magistrate, and the district land officials. The study used two methods of data collection which were key informant interviews and household survey to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Data analysis used for quantitative data was descriptive statistics while for qualitative data, content analysis (conceptual and relational) was used to determine the perceptions and attitudes of the respondents on socio-cultural factors which determined women's rights to land ownership in the study district. Results The findings showed that cultural practices were the major barriers to women's access to, control over and land ownership. The study concludes that women who freely owned land were economically more productive than those who did not and there were positive effects on poverty reduction among women who had access to land ownership. Hence, this made them independent in income generation and provision of support to their families and the community in general. The study recommends that the central government, NGOs and local government authority should sensitize and capacitate women on issues of land ownership rights and property ownership. Also, inclusive programs should target both women and men in the community, by emphasizing on the importance of gender equality and equity in land ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background Sustainable growth and development in Africa will continue to depend mainly on how land and land-related resources are secured, used, and managed, which is extremely important for the socio-economic development of women and men. Equitable land rights support the eradication of poverty, increase food security, and respond to climate change. However, women's land rights are strongly gendered across many regions of the globe, especially in Africa, where access to and control over land and productive resources is affected by customary norms, usually discriminatory against women. Goal and Objectives: This paper focuses on Mozambique's legal reform and institutional capacity-building efforts, with special attention to social institutions, to promote equitable land rights and enhance land tenure security. It is based on specific practices in documenting customary and statutory access, control, and ownership of land, considering both the ongoing legal reform and the systematic land registration program the country has been promoting over the past decade. This paper intends to document these efforts and good practices so that they can be used as a reference and others can benefit from them. Methodology: The research follows a pragmatic value-driven philosophy, focusing on practical solutions and outcomes to improve future practice, taking gender inequality in land access as a starting point. The approach to theory development is abductive, moving from theory to data (deduction) and from data to theory (induction). Multi-methods, qualitative and quantitative, are used to ensure a richer approach. Results: Mozambique's legal framework has been reformed to accommodate several improvements related to gender equality. The family and the succession laws, are a clear break from the past merely patriarchal vision cemented in inequality. The recently approved land policy and the land law provide gender equality and protection of women's land rights. The Constitution and the land law recognize legal pluralism, having statutory and customary norms co-existing in land management and land administration, provided that the Constitution is not violated. Mozambique launched a massive systematic land registration, having designed and implemented its Fit-For-Purpose Land Administration approach, formatted to the country's context, intertwining three pillars: people, processes, and technology. There are still challenges to overcome, mainly due to complexity, contradictions, and overlaps within legal pluralism, as sometimes traditional and cultural norms prevent women from accessing, controlling, or owning land and participating in decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving productivity is an important channel for satisfying household food needs through food availability. Increasing the productivity of small-scale farmers is linked to a number of factors, including land access, labor, chemicals, fertilizers and so on. Most farmers resort to expanding their cultivated areas to increase production because of insufficient financial resources available for purchasing inputs during agricultural seasons. This situation, combined with increasing pressure on land, does not favor agricultural production and, by extension, food security. This study therefore assesses the impact of different modes of access to land on agricultural productivity. Regime-switching multinomial regression techniques were used to account for endogeneity bias due to observed and unobserved factors. The results of the study show that access through free loans, tenancy and sharecropping negatively affect agricultural yields. The counterfactual analysis reveals a positive gain estimated at 509.9 kg/ha from land access by landowners. If the lenders were landowners, their gain would be 396.6 kg/ha, whereas the farmers would gain 485.1 kg/ha if they were landowners, and similarly the sharecroppers would gain 389.8 kg/ha if they were landowners. It is clear from these results that improving agricultural yields depends on securing land and requires the establishment of an effective land ownership system. This research impacts land ownership policies, which need to be revised to address customary rights and reduce inequalities in access to secure land. It highlights the way land tenure security drives agricultural advancements and offers actionable recommendations for policy improvements on food security.

In this paper, we assess factors that underlie the relationship between gardening and improved mental health and food security outcomes among displaced people. Drawing on a mixed method study of refugee gardeners in New York, we argue that a food sovereignty framework better incorporates crucial factors such as cultural appropriateness of food, autonomy over food choices, and promotion of health and community, as compared with a food security analysis. We draw commonalities between Indigenous food sovereignty scholarship and the resettled refugee experience, making connections across conceptual and material divisions in scholarly literature and funding institutions. Our work helps researchers and practitioners understand the impacts of gardening on social and material outcomes for displaced people, and suggests global linkages between dispossessed immigrant and Indigenous peoples' food sovereignty movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Next-generation farmers face immense challenges in securing land. In recent years, some state- and federal-level land access policy incentives (LAPIs) have been implemented to address these chal­lenges. In this paper, we assess the Transition Incentives Program (TIP), an initiative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program that is funded by Congressional farm bills. TIP offers landowners two years of financial incen­tives for leasing or selling to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (categories of farmers defined by the U.S. Department of Agri­culture). In our study, we characterize TIP partici­pants to understand where and how TIP assists beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Our findings demonstrate that TIP serves some landowners and next-generation farmers, primarily in the Midwest and Mountain West. We demonstrate a spatial mismatch between where next-generation farmers live and high rates of TIP participation. Variable participation may be due to inconsistent outreach and limits to the program design. We identify key barriers and provide insights to improve TIP and other land access programs for next-generation farmers.

Rural farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa, facing limited land access, engage in land purchase, rental, and other land access practices. However, the highly unregulated land markets expose these farmers to wide-ranging vulnerabilities. In this study, we investigated the land access mechanisms and the related constraints among the small-scale farmers in the densely populated Eastern part of The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We randomly selected 240 consenting farmers for inclusion in the study and collected data using semi-structured interviews to obtain data on land access characteristics. Then, the data was subjected to descriptive statistics to obtain measures of central tendency and dispersion on the responses and correlation statistics to understand the patterns and relations of factors affecting the land access and strategies used to cope with the limited land situation in the South Kivu province of DRC. Our results showed an insecure land tenure system among smallholder farmers. Most of the farmers in the study purchased and leased land to cope with poor land access and, in so doing, faced high price-related limitations that were unsustainable to these farmers; they also faced highly restrictive leasehold contracts. Given the limited access to financial resources and support, improving regulations of land markets and resource support interventions could promote land access among these smallholder farmers. We conclude that the challenges of land access and the current methods farmers use to obtain additional land among the smallholder farming households in the south Kivu province of DRC are precarious and unsustainable and continue to pose a food insecurity and poverty risk among these farmers. We recommend developing and implementing measures to support resource access by these farmers, such as finance, farmerfocused cooperative societies, and better land policy reforms and tenure systems to improve access to land among these farmers and farmers facing similar scenarios in other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Next-generation farmers face immense challenges in securing land. In recent years, some state- and federal-level land access policy incentives (LAPIs) have been implemented to address these challenges. In this paper, we assess the Transition Incentives Program (TIP), an initiative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Program that is funded by Congressional farm bills. TIP offers landowners two years of financial incentives for leasing or selling to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (categories of farmers defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture). In our study, we characterize TIP participants to understand where and how TIP assists beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Our findings demonstrate that TIP serves some landowners and next-generation farmers, primarily in the Midwest and Mountain West. We demonstrate a spatial mismatch between where next-generation farmers live and high rates of TIP participation. Variable participation may be due to inconsistent outreach and limits to the program design. We identify key barriers and provide insights to improve TIP and other land access programs for next-generation farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some studies question the effectiveness of incentive-based environmental public policies (IEPPS) on inducing changes in farmers' practices due to certain psychological mechanisms. Rooted in self-determination theory, the extant literature notably focuses on the motivation crowding phenomenon while overlooking the central concept of the basic psychological needs (BPN) of humans: autonomy, competence and social relatedness. This article explores farmers' BPNs and their fulfillment in the case of farmland arrangements for the protection of natural areas (FAPAs). These IEPPs grant access to land at low rents under conditions of environmentally friendly agricultural practices. We analyze interviews with farmers engaged in FAPAs in a French basin with computer-assisted text-based qualitative data analysis methods. FAPAs create a social context that thwarts farmers' BPN for autonomy due to a noninclusive design that extends beyond constraints on practices. An inclusive FAPA design and support to BPNs for competence and relatedness could improve farmers' engagement in action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa, facing limited land access, engage in land purchase, rental, and other land access practices. However, the highly unregulated land markets expose these farmers to wide-ranging vulnerabilities. In this study, we investigated the land access mechanisms and the related constraints among the small-scale farmers in the densely populated Eastern part of The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We randomly selected 240 consenting farmers for inclusion in the study and collected data using semi-structured interviews to obtain data on land access characteristics. Then, the data was subjected to descriptive statistics to obtain measures of central tendency and dispersion on the responses and correlation statistics to understand the patterns and relations of factors affecting the land access and strategies used to cope with the limited land situation in the South Kivu province of DRC. Our results showed an insecure land tenure system among smallholder farmers. Most of the farmers in the study purchased and leased land to cope with poor land access and, in so doing, faced high price-related limitations that were unsustainable to these farmers; they also faced highly restrictive leasehold contracts. Given the limited access to financial resources and support, improving regulations of land markets and resource support interventions could promote land access among these smallholder farmers. We conclude that the challenges of land access and the current methods farmers use to obtain additional land among the smallholder farming households in the south Kivu province of DRC are precarious and unsustainable and continue to pose a food insecurity and poverty risk among these farmers. We recommend developing and implementing measures to support resource access by these farmers, such as finance, farmer-focused cooperative societies, and better land policy reforms and tenure systems to improve access to land among these farmers and farmers facing similar scenarios in other parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

The article departs from a unique data set covering 44 villages over the period 2002 to 2013/2015 and finds that polarization in living standards has fallen dramatically, largely based on access to agricultural output markets. Rural differentiation with respect to land access has, however, increased rapidly, showing the importance of contextualizing improvements in living standards in relation to land access. The spatial distribution of these patterns varies greatly. Theoretically, the article shows that perspectives of both differentiation and broad-based growth are relevant for the study of African smallholder agriculture. Market participation in the short term leads to livelihood improvements, but over time enhances differentiation with respect to access to land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraction activities in forest areas in Indonesia have led to drastic changes in the ecological balance of forest regions. The Indonesian government responded by implementing the concept of Industrial Plantation Forest (HTI), which was granted to the private sector to address the damage caused by forest extraction while utilizing unproductive forest land. However, this policy failed to consider the presence of communities that controlled and utilized land. This triggered agrarian conflicts because of differing claims over land. Using qualitative research methods, this paper explores the issue of agrarian conflict through a political ecological analysis within the theoretical framework of access and exclusion. Thus, it elucidates why forest area conflicts in Napal Putih occur, who the actors are involved in each contestation process, and how the relationships among actors take shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, many sugarcane mills face the challenge of obtaining sufficient raw material. This work analyzes and compares the land access forms to cane production in Brazil (big producer) and Peru (small producer). Data from Agricultural Censuses of the two countries are used. In the analyzed period, there was an increase in sugarcane production in both countries. It is observed that in Brazil, the tendency is for sugar mills to use land leasing or sharecropping contracts. In Peru, new sugarcane mills mainly use their own land. The access to land through agrarian contracts can be a factor of sustainability of the sugarcane agribusiness.

The analytical inseparability of natural environment and society is reiterated by the findings of this study which contributes to a genre of studies that centre‐stages the socio‐ecological system. This study seeks to understand the interplay of state‐related and other modes of securing property rights in the context of pervasive coastal hazards through a case study from the Indian Sundarbans region (Sagar Island in West Bengal). This paper also contributes to research pertaining to slow‐onset disasters and attempts to examine emerging dimensions of land scarcity as well as diverse modes of access to land in the context of progressive ecological vulnerability. The analysis highlights the varying shades of declining land access and investigates how existing land policies and disaster management mechanisms remain far from extending security to communities experiencing environmental crisis. The paper thereby examines how community and state agencies adopting means to allocate property may in fact refute legality and perpetuate informality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and Background: The Government of the Republic of Zambia has among other things strengthened policy framework to ensure gender equality and women's empowerment so as to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 by 2030. For example, the 2000 National Gender Policy (NGP) was revised in 2014 in order to, among other things, eliminate gender disparities in accessing state land. Through the 2014 NGP, the 30 percent threshold was increased to 50 percent of all land allocation for women. However, statistics still show that women’s access to state land is significantly lower than that of men. Goal and Objectives: This paper aims at investigating the factors that adversely affect women’s access to state land in Zambia which may in turn prevent achieving SDG 5 by 2030 and to recommend specific strategies to address these factors. Methodology: Primary data were obtained from five purposively selected institutions: Kalulushi Municipal Council, Chingola Municipal Council, Chililabombwe Municipal Council, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and Zambia Land Alliance (Kitwe office). The data collection method used with the key informants was in-depth face-to-face interviews. Management at each institution chose the key informant based on their expertise and experience on the subject. Primary data were also collected from ninetysix (96) women working in the formal and informal sectors. In particular, thirty-two (32) women from each case study area, were randomly selected, and the questionnaire method was used for data collection. Secondary data were obtained through desk research and documents collected from the government offices. Results: According to research findings, achieving gender equality and women's empowerment in the land sector remains a challenge in Zambia. There are various factors that adversely affect women’s access to state land which if not addressed may prevent achieving SDG 5 by 2030. These among others include weak implementation of laws and policies, information gap, complex state land acquisition procedures, and high land administration costs and plot fees. In view of the foregoing, the study recommends: ensuring effective implementation of policies and laws through inter alia adequate funding and human resource capacity, improving the sensitization programs of municipal councils on women's land rights; streamlining the procedure for accessing state land; and addressing poverty among women through reducing plot fees and keeping low the land administration costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Research Aims: Agriculture through deforestation is an important threat to biodiversity conservation in the Congo Basin's tropical forest. The policy challenge is not only to promote adaptation to perceived climate change but also to promote forest conservation. The aim of this study is to provide empirical evidence on the impact of farm-level investments in climate-smart agricultural practices related to conservation agriculture in some Congo Basin countries. The hypothesis is that property rights to land and trees play a fundamental role in governing the patterns of investment, forestland management for conservation, as well as in the profitability of agriculture. Methods: A Simulated Maximum Likelihood Estimation using a Mixed Logit model is used to test farmers' choice of agricultural system and a farmland value model for each agricultural system which includes determinants of tenure or property rights, climate, soils, and socioeconomic variables such as education and gender. The data was collected from more than 600 farms covering 12 regions and 45 divisions in 3 countries, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Results: Farmers choose one of three agricultural systems to maximize farm profit mindful of the current tenure regime and environmental conditions. Conservation agriculture techniques within climate-smart practices show benefits for smallholder farmers through improvements in soil health, soil moisture retention and enhanced crop yields. The rights to access, withdraw, manage, as well as exclude others from land and trees affect both the farmers' choice of system and the profit earned from the chosen system. Conclusion: Farm-level investments improve farm incomes and enhance conservation effort for farmers perceiving climate change. Implications for Conservation: Climate change adaptation through planting of trees improves soil stability, restores ecosystems and creates a safe haven for biodiversity. Secure land tenure promotes better forestland management and reduces land degradation in vulnerable communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa is one of the many countries that experience critical challenges regarding land issues, with rural women in particular having limited access to and ownership of land. This paper argues that land inaccessibility for women contributes significantly to their deprivation of economic opportunities. Secondary data on women and land ownership were extracted from main sources such as peer-reviewed articles and government gazettes. In the execution of this study, a comprehensive literature review (CLR) was conducted to illuminate the topic under investigation. The three phases (the exploration phase, the interpretative phase, and the communicative phase) of the comprehensive literature review method were adopted. The result of the review suggests that the gendered nature of land distribution contributes to the phenomenon of food insecurity that faces numerous women and their households in rural areas. The customary law is a key institutional factor that poses challenges for rural women in acquiring equal access to land ownership compared to men. The study recommends that the South African government should formulate better land policies that provide equal access to and ownership of land for both men and women.

The issue of equal access of citizens to land remains a concern of public authorities to respond to issues related to household food security, especially in rural areas. Along the way, a legal and regulatory framework has been developed to give substance to the development options of the primary sector consisting of agriculture and livestock. However, the criteria identified in the context of the allocation of land in the national domain are sometimes biased due to considerations based on the social position of the person concerned. Indeed, the notion of capacity to be able to develop the land requested naturally excludes certain strata that do not meet the financial conditions required for such exploitation. According to our surveys, the category of people who find themselves in this situation is often made up of women, young people, the elderly and those with disabilities. However, there are a series of measures that would aim to restore the equality of citizens for the access and use of natural and land resources. Land projects and programs in collaboration with the State and rural communes make consideration of the gender aspect a component. This concern has enabled vulnerable groups to be better taken into account in the land allocation activities of the national domain at the level of the commune of Diama, notwithstanding the breakthrough of large-scale land acquisitions (ATE).

This paper presents empirical evidences of cultural barriers to women and the youths in accessing family land among the Ndali tribe, drawing insights on the cultural practices and social norms. The evidence emanates from discussions with local leaders: members of Village Land Councils and members of the Village Councils from six villages namely Itumba, Isongole, Nyenzebwe, Mlale, Ilulu and Izuba. A total of 65 leaders (26 females and 39 males) took part in the focus group discussion during a seminar on the Tanzanian land laws. Empirical evidences have shown that access to land held under customary tenure for both women and the youth within the Ndali tribe is largely influenced by multiple cultural norms including patrilineal lineage, commoditization of women through dowry payment upon marriage, and gender-based discrimination on inheritance. The dominant patrilineal lineage does not recognize women rights to land. Women are considered temporary members in the clans i.e. as daughters who will get married or wives who may leave upon divorce. Women are considered commodities purchased through dowry and, therefore, not qualified to inherit land on the husband’s clan land. As such, family or clan land is passed over through male family members. For the youths, the main cultural barrier is associated with the timing of inheritance. It was observed that it is a common practice for male youth to inherit clan and family land at the passing on of the male head of the family. The youth remain landless and only access use rights. The observed cultural barriers suggest that the legal framework which govern land management and provides for equal access to land is not well understood. There is need to put in place strategies for creating awareness of the laws to curb continued discriminative cultural norms and practices.

Context and Background: The Government of the Republic of Zambia has strengthened the policy and legal frameworks to support gender equality and women's empowerment. Although there are no legal barriers to women’s property rights in Zambia as stipulated in the country’s respective gender policy or land laws, in practical terms, this provision has yet to yield much success regarding women’s state land ownership. Goal and Objectives: This paper aims at establishing the situation regarding women’s access to state land and investigating the obstacles preventing the implementation of the policy and legal frameworks concerning women’s access to state land. Methodology: Primary data were obtained from five purposively selected institutions: Kalulushi Municipal Council, Chingola Municipal Council, Chililabombwe Municipal Council, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and Zambia Land Alliance (Kitwe office). The data collection method used with the key informants was in-depth face-to-face interviews. Office management at each institution chose the key informant based on their expertise and experience on the subject. Primary data were further collected from ninety-six (96) women working in the formal and informal sectors. In particular, thirty-two (32) women from each case study area, were randomly selected, and the questionnaire method was used for data collection. Secondary data were obtained through desk research and documents collected from the government offices. Results: Research findings from Kalulushi, Chingola, and Chililabombwe Municipal Councils revealed that the provision under the 2014 National Gender Policy of allocating 50 percent of available state land to women was never achieved from 2014 to 2021. There are various obstacles preventing women from accessing state land. These included but not restricted to information gap, complex procedure for accessing state land, high plot fees, low gender mainstreaming, cultural norms and traditions, and limited women’s participation in decision-making over land matters, In view of the foregoing, gender equality in access to state land can be addressed through: improving the sensitization programs of municipal councils on women's land rights; streamlining the procedure for accessing state land; addressing poverty among women through reducing plot fees and keeping low the land administration costs; ensuring understanding of gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the land sector by policy implementers; building awareness of demerits of cultural norms and traditions; and facilitating women's participation in the decision-making process and community mobilization initiatives.

Context and background Unsustainable land management practices result in land degradation that threatens the environment and stifles livelihoods. Africa remains exposed to threats such as natural resource degradation and poverty due to various reasons that include: changing demographics, urbanization, mining, fragile natural resources and ecosystems, increased soil erosion and land degradation, low yields and high post-harvest yield losses. Land degradation is severe and ongoing because of economic pressures and slower evolution of environmental awareness. Goal and Objectives: This article, while examining the Africa's land potential of the African countries, advocates for the people themselves and youth particularly, not just the governments, to be involved. It also explores the wealth of livelihood opportunities that can be found in tackling land degradation and environmental policies. Methodology: The methodology involves multiple case studies focused on the review of the continent's strategic resource richness. It includes scientific studies, and reports of support organizations. Results: This paper has laid out concerns about both the state of Africa's environment and youth career prospects. But more importantly, provided insights on steps that can be taken to conserve the environment and create jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Food security is a major development concern worldwide. The use of arable lands to grow cash crops raises additional concerns, yet empirical evidence on the relationship between cash cropping and food security remains inconclusive. Using survey data from 408 randomly sampled households, this paper assesses the income and food security implications of reviving cocoa farming in the Forest-Savannah Transition Zone of Ghana. In addition, the paper examines the influence of socioeconomic factors and diversification into cashew on the food security of cocoa households. Data was collected from 12 rural communities, where food crop production was the main source of livelihood. A causal-comparative design was used. Food security was measured using the USDA Food Security Core Module. Results Contrary to the literature that cash crops undermine food security, findings indicate a positive relationship between cocoa farming, household crop income and food security, highlighting complementarities between cocoa, food crop and cashew production. Although income from cocoa alone was not sufficient enough to guarantee food security, it enhanced the financial ability of farmers to diversify into cashew and expand food crop production. This minimised market dependency for food staples, enhanced annual crop income, and ensured a continuous flow of income. Overall, the food security advantage of cocoa farming was predicted by diversification into cashew, displacement of food crops using cocoa, socioeconomic factors, such as land ownership, livestock ownership, and formal education; and marginally by total annual crop income. Conclusions Income from cocoa alone is not high enough and widely distributed to guarantee food security. Reinvesting the returns from cocoa in cashew and food crops seems to be a more reliable pathway to enhancing food security than merely depending on the income to buy food. A semi-subsistence system that ensures optimum combination of cash and food crops is, therefore, recommended, but this may require sufficient access to land.

Millions of poor people who live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for a living need secure access to productive land. Gender disparities in access to productive resources, such as agricultural land, remain a major concern, especially in Nigeria. This study therefore, investigated the impact of land access and ownership on farm production across gender in Southwest Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 480 respondents comprising of 240 male headed households and 240 female headed households across the three states in Southwest Nigeria. Cross-sectional data were obtained through structured questionnaire and subjected to statistical analysis such as propensity score matching (PSM), inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA), and instrumental variable (IV) regression approach to control for possible endogeneity that could arise from the data collected. Farm yield of household heads was used as indicator to estimate the impact of land access and land ownership. Results show that most (56.7%) of male and 46.4% of female headed households acquired land through family inheritance. The significant difference existed between farm yield gained by male and female headed households due to their level of land access and land ownership at 5%. The size of the estimated treatment effect indicates a high improvement in the farm yield outcome of male headed households compared their female counterparts. Also, findings show that marital status, level of education, access to credit, and membership of association all had a positive and statistically significant relationship with both male and female headed households’ access to land and land ownership at various levels. This study thus, conclude that there were gender differences in land accessibility and ownership in the study area as male headed households were found to have more access to farm land than their female counterparts. Reliable data on male and female headed households’ access to land and land ownership are critical for providing an accurate picture of female headed households’ land tenure arrangement, improving policy formulation and monitoring progress towards the attainment of gender equality in land access is hence encouraged. Also, group formation and membership should be promoted and encouraged especially among female headed households to enhance their purchasing power through access to credit, and common voice in accessing communal lands.

In this work, we empirically investigate how land acquisition and food security interact dynamically in Ethiopia's rural and small-town areas. Apparently, connections between the two issues getting more attention, yet dynamic links between them remain unexplored. This paper utilizes a moment-based generalized systems approach (SYS-GMM), and tests in panel data models. The results of system GMM estimates using data for 3288 households from 2011–12 to 2018–19 confirm that the lagged dependent variables were negative (-1.359) with statistically significant, which justifies the specification of the dynamic panel model and the adoption of the two-step system-GMM for estimating DPD analysis, which further validates the dynamic adjustment process and the lagged effect. It also confirmed that adult equivalence (a proxy for family size, and tropical livestock unit all exhibit elastic relationships i.e., −3.101 and 1.23 respectively at a 1% level of significance, while the other statistically significant predictors were found to have an inelastic relationship with food security (

In the face of myriad environmental challenges associated with industrial agriculture, some farmers and researchers have looked to diversified farming systems as a promising alternative. Despite well-documented ecological benefits, diversification practices remain rare in many regions of the U.S, even amongst organic farmers. Our study focuses on organic farmers in the Central Coast region of California, an area that has played a crucial role in the rise of organic agriculture over the last several decades. Through 20 interviews with farmers who all grow lettuce and 8 interviews with technical assistance providers, we investigate the persistent barriers that growers in this region face in adopting diversification practices including cover cropping, compost application, crop rotation, insectary strips, and hedgerows. We find that high land rents, the predominance of short-term leases, stringent food safety standards, and other supply chain pressures significantly hamper the adoption of diversification practices. In order to surmount these barriers and increase adoption, solutions must be pursued at three interconnected levels: innovation at the farm level, and policy change at the technical and structural levels. Locally-informed, integrated, and innovative policies across these three levels must be explored to support the creation of a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents empirical evidences of cultural barriers to women and the youths in accessing family land among the Ndali tribe, drawing insights on the cultural practices and social norms. The evidence emanates from discussions with local leaders: members of Village Land Councils and members of the Village Councils from six villages namely Itumba, Isongole, Nyenzebwe, Mlale, Ilulu and Izuba. A total of 65 leaders (26 females and 39 males) took part in the focus group discussion during a seminar on the Tanzanian land laws. Empirical evidences have shown that access to land held under customary tenure for both women and the youth within the Ndali tribe is largely influenced by multiple cultural norms including patrilineal lineage, commoditization of women through dowry payment upon marriage, and gender-based discrimination on inheritance. The dominant patrilineal lineage does not recognize women rights to land. Women are considered temporary members in the clans i.e. as daughters who will get married or wives who may leave upon divorce. Women are considered commodities purchased through dowry and, therefore, not qualified to inherit land on the husband's clan land. As such, family or clan land is passed over through male family members. For the youths, the main cultural barrier is associated with the timing of inheritance. It was observed that it is a common practice for male youth to inherit clan and family land at the passing on of the male head of the family. The youth remain landless and only access use rights. The observed cultural barriers suggest that the legal framework which govern land management and provides for equal access to land is not well understood. There is need to put in place strategies for creating awareness of the laws to curb continued discriminative cultural norms and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to land is crucial for food systems to address the challenges caused by habitat and biodiversity loss, land and water degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable food production requires land security upstream for agricultural production. Land security emanates from the land law implemented in-country by government policy. In the span of a decade (2007–2017), three different land reforms have been adopted in Benin. This paper aims to investigate the land rights and land tenure security for sustainable food production according to land law and the factors that influence agricultural entrepreneurial activities in North Benin. The study was carried out in the Borgou department, mainly in five communes that are beneficiaries of the Responsible Land Policy Project of GIZ (Promotion d'une Politique Foncière Responsible: ProPFR/GIZ). A multistage sampling procedure was used to select the agricultural entrepreneur respondents. A total of 102 agriculture entrepreneurs were interviewed in 25 villages. According to land law in Benin, the results highlight the different levels of land tenure security and land rights represented by types of land documents: type contract (use right), certificates of customary ownership (ADC), and land title. The research reveals that 44.3% of the land of agriculture entrepreneurs' respondents possessed the certificates of customary ownership and 18% possessed the land title. The facilitation of access to legal land documents such as certificates of customary ownership and land titles can protect agricultural entrepreneurship for sustainable food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scholarly discourse on migrants and land access in peri-urban spaces is advancing theoretically and empirically. This paper contributes to this important discourse by examining the structures and networks used by migrants of international descent in accessing and securing the much coveted land in peri-urban spaces of destination countries. The study is qualitative, based on an ethnographic inquiry among Malawian migrants in Lydiate, an informal peri-urban squatter settlement in Zimbabwe's Norton town. The finding of the paper is that migrants resort to alternative institutions including kinship, political networks and investors in accessing and securing land in peri-urban spaces. Migrants also establish themselves through the occult, a religious and ritual-based form of authority that is associated with deathly symbols. Because it is feared by adherence and indigenes alike, the occult is able to yield and guarantee land to migrants seeking it in its name. Migrant squatter settlements, therefore, emerge as dynamic spaces with novel forms of authority that regulate access to resources. Beneath the semblance of chaos that characterizes squatter settlements, there is another different 'world'; ordered and shared by those who constitute it. The paper further argues that, the reason why migrants turn to alternative forms of authority in accessing and securing land is not because they prefer it; very often, there are no formal institutions that they can turn to. What this means for academia and policy makers is that, there is a broad scope of players that need to be engaged in the planning and governance of peri-urban spaces in the age of transnational mobility. These players include political patrons, investors, and other primordial forms of authority which include kinship and the feared occult. These players not only need to be understood but also require to be engaged in the ongoing construction and governance of peri-urban spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenges that coffee smallholder livelihoods face suggest the need to move beyond incremental changes in production. Transformative agroecology offers a potential approach to guide systemic change to achieve food sovereignty among coffee smallholders and cooperatives. This work aims to understand the extent to which diversification practices among coffee smallholders can contribute to a transformative agroecology, and to what extent, participatory action research (PAR) projects may support related transformative processes. The PAR projects described in this paper took place over 3 years with participants associated with two smallholder cooperatives in Mexico, and Nicaragua. After establishing long-term partnerships among cooperatives and universities, we used a PAR approach to guide a mixed methods study that included 338 household surveys, 96 interviews, 44 focus group discussions, and participant observation during farmer-to-farmers exchanges. We found that, although coffee-producing households in both study sites report several diversification activities, more than 50% still face some period of food scarcity each year. In our reflections with farmers and staff from the participating cooperatives, that are also included as co-authors in this study, we conclude that coffee smallholders and cooperatives in both locations are in the early stages of developing a transformative agroecology, as a path toward food sovereignty. Several leverage points to achieve this include land access, native seed conservation, cultural attachment to certain diversification practices, and traditional diets. Some of the more significant challenges to advancing a more transformative agroecology are the prioritization of coffee as a crop (i.e., coffee specialization), and dependency on coffee income. Our PAR project also aimed to contribute to achieving change in the prevailing system through 1) capacity building with community facilitators/promoters, 2) co-creation of questions and knowledge relevant to the strategic planning by coffee cooperatives, 3) sharing farmer-to-farmer pedagogies across territories, and 4) the co-production of popular education material. We conclude that diversification remains an important agroecological strategy for smallholder commodity producers, as a way of achieving food sovereignty. Most of all, we find that achieving diversification is not a linear process, as there are many trade-offs, feedback loops, obstacles and opportunities that should be considered through long-term and collective approaches.

First paragraph: At a time when regenerative agriculture has come under increasing scrutiny for murky definitions (Newton et al., 2020), corporate dilution (Nargi, 2020), and a lack of attention to racial justice and land access (Fassler, 2021), Liz Carlisle’s Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming (2022) offers an expansive, justice-oriented understanding of regenerative agriculture. In Healing Grounds, Carlisle makes the case that the regenerative farming practices gaining popular traction are not new but are instead deeply rooted in the agricultural traditions of Black, Indig­e­nous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities across the globe. To unearth these deep roots, Carlisle features the stories and work of several BIPOC women leaders in regenerative agriculture, weaving in a wealth of interviews, archival research, and historical data to examine structural agricul­tural injustices and the multitude of regenerative farming practices sustained by BIPOC commu­nities. . . .

Organic food demand in Portugal swiftly increases due to local governments willingness to include organic and locally produced food in school meals. We argue that local production is limited because there are no multi-sector or multi-actors approaches regarding land access, a necessity to secure local organic food supply. Based on a stakeholder’s mapping approach and semi-structured interviews and taking Torres Vedras as a pilot study we conclude that local policies require a bundle of instruments which should be made suitable for local realities. Nevertheless, local authorities have a key-role to play as facilitators for accessing land for organic food production.

Agriculture plays a prominent role in the economy of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has considerable production potential. One of the most populous and poorest provinces in DRC is South Kivu, where many people live below the poverty line. This paper aimed to understand agricultural development's role in reducing poverty and maintaining rural households' food security in the DRC. This study developed a questionnaire to evaluate the household identity, source of income, access to land, crops grown on the land, farming and animal husbandry practices, and constraints faced by households in relation to agriculture. The survey included meetings with farm heads, data collection from 120 households on household characteristics of their livelihoods (human capital, land capital, social capital, financial, etc.), as well as an overview of living conditions and income from agricultural activities. The data were processed and analyzed using R 3.6.2 and Excel software. The results showed that access to land is problematic with relatively small farms, especially when one considers that household size is high and therefore, the "area per farm" ratio is low. Moreover, agriculture generates very little income and it is therefore very difficult for a farmer to emerge from poverty. As a result, implementing an effective and equitable anti-poverty policy in rural areas is important to address the issue of farming household incomes and target low incomes from all sources of income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many land deals are never implemented to production stage, little is known about how abandoned projects affect local communities and the government agencies that promote them. This article analyses the effects on local actors, their land access, land use and tenure security of a large-scale bio-fuel land deal in northern Laos that a Chinese company initiated but subsequently abandoned before reaching the planting and production stage. The project left local people bound by contracts without cancellation clauses and with livelihood losses, until the investment contract eventually was annulled by Lao state actors. The deal has prepared the provincial government to receive new investors to further the modernization of agriculture and a land-based economic growth, both in terms of identifying land for development, and experiences gained of how to handle international investors. However, it seems unlikely that local actors can decline future projects when interests of investors and government actors overlap–interests that may not be limited to those officially stated as the objectives of the land deal. A more accurate terminology and additional research is needed to shed light on the outcomes of land deals that for some reason never reach a production stage, whether as a “virtual,” or “failed” land deal.

Currently, many sugarcane mills face the challenge of obtaining sufficient raw material. This work analyzes and compares the land access forms to cane production in Brazil (big producer) and Peru (small producer). Data from Agricultural Censuses of the two countries are used. In the analyzed period, there was an increase in sugarcane production in both countries. It is observed that in Brazil, the tendency is for sugar mills to use land leasing or sharecropping contracts. In Peru, new sugarcane mills mainly use their own land. The access to land through agrarian contracts can be a factor of sustainability of the sugarcane agribusiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of poor people who live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for a living need secure access to productive land. Gender disparities in access to productive resources, such as agricultural land, remain a major concern, especially in Nigeria. This study therefore, investigated the impact of land access and ownership on farm production across gender in Southwest Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 480 respondents comprising of 240 male headed households and 240 female headed households across the three states in Southwest Nigeria. Cross-sectional data were obtained through structured questionnaire and subjected to statistical analysis such as propensity score matching (PSM), inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA), and instrumental variable (IV) regression approach to control for possible endogeneity that could arise from the data collected. Farm yield of household heads was used as indicator to estimate the impact of land access and land ownership. Results show that most (56.7%) of male and 46.4% of female headed households acquired land through family inheritance. The significant difference existed between farm yield gained by male and female headed households due to their level of land access and land ownership at 5%. The size of the estimated treatment effect indicates a high improvement in the farm yield outcome of male headed households compared their female counterparts. Also, findings show that marital status, level of education, access to credit, and membership of association all had a positive and statistically significant relationship with both male and female headed households’ access to land and land ownership at various levels. This study thus, conclude that there were gender differences in land accessibility and ownership in the study area as male headed households were found to have more access to farm land than their female counterparts. Reliable data on male and female headed households’ access to land and land ownership are critical for providing an accurate picture of female headed households’ land tenure arrangement, improving policy formulation and monitoring progress towards the attainment of gender equality in land access is hence encouraged. Also, group formation and membership should be promoted and encouraged especially among female headed households to enhance their purchasing power through access to credit, and common voice in accessing communal lands.

The role of education in abolishing cultural practices that encourage gender inequality needs consistent evaluation for inclusive, responsive policy development and implementation in a dynamic society. Eliminating masculine gender hegemony may result in attainment of international commitments like gender equality and poverty eradication. Reexamining the role of education in reducing gender inequality in patriarchal societies can highlight critical issues needing policy actions for attainment of sustainable development goals. The objectives of the study were to examine effects of education on marital and family life, income and access to land resources by male and female, as well as the effects of education on girl child education. The hypotheses that guided the study were: parents' education attainment increases girl child education opportunity; education attainment reduces male-female income gap and education attainment increases women access to land. The study was conducted in Southwest Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to collect primary data from 720 households using a well-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Pearson Correlation tests. Results showed significant disparity among men, women, girls and boys education attainments. Significantly, male have more access to land and other resources than female. The work discussed implications of the existing gender disparity despite efforts to bridge the gap and noted effects of education in reducing the gaps and ensuring gender equality. The paper is optimistic that terminating gender inequality as education policy can significantly improve girl child education, reduce girls' marriages, improve marital life, increase females' income and access to information as well as land resources., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)