The link between land access and agriculture in West Africa remains central to tackling food security and empowering vulnerable populations, according to Adin Bloukounon Goubalan, an agriculture expert at the FAO’s sub-regional office.
Speaking during the 16th multidisciplinary team meeting in Praia, Cape Verde, Goubalan addressed land tenure challenges and the need for sustainable, inclusive management in a region marked by inequality and insecurity.
Land: A Pillar of Agriculture in West Africa
“Land is the foundation of agriculture in Africa,” Goubalan emphasized.
“Unlike modern farming methods such as vertical or soil-free agriculture, our systems depend heavily on smallholders cultivating directly on the land.”
He outlined three main land tenure systems in the region:
- Customary Land Rights: Recognizing the historical claims of rural communities, often formalized in national land codes.
- Public Land Rights: State ownership of certain lands, which may be allocated for public use.
- Private Land Rights: Individual ownership of purchased land, both rural and urban.
Despite reforms aiming to widen access to land, significant challenges persist, particularly for women. “While legal frameworks exist, customary practices and societal norms often hinder women’s effective access to land,” Goubalan noted.
Barriers to Women’s Land Access
Women, particularly in rural areas, face systemic exclusion from land inheritance and ownership, even though they form the backbone of subsistence farming.
“Without secure land rights, women cannot invest in sustainable practices, such as tree planting or soil fertility preservation, leaving them trapped in precarious subsistence farming,” he said.
FAO’s Role in Strengthening Land Rights
The FAO is actively collaborating with governments and civil society to improve land access for women and vulnerable groups.
Goubalan cited Guinea-Bissau as an example, where collective land ownership initiatives for women have bolstered agricultural sustainability and resilience.
“These projects demonstrate that moving beyond monetary aid to securing land rights is essential for transformative change,” he added.
Navigating Land Issues Amid Insecurity
In conflict-prone areas like the Sahel, land disputes exacerbate tensions as displaced populations are resettled.
“Governments, UN agencies, and local communities must work together to ensure that allocated lands are free from disputes and that the needs of host communities are also considered,” Goubalan stressed.
Inclusive and equitable land management remains critical for sustainable development in West Africa, particularly in addressing food security and resilience in vulnerable regions.
