LAND REGISTRATION IN AFRICA - THE IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

The conventional view of "traditional" or informal systems of African land rights is that they impede agricultural development, and that land titling or registration is needed to encourage land transfers to more productive farmers, improve farmer access to credit, and create incentives for investment in land improvement, soil conservation and new technology. In spite of growing pressure on land resources and on existing land tenure systems, there is much evidence from many parts of Africa which calls into question this conventional view. The costs of land titling may be quite high, and its effects contrary to expectations. A number of cheaper alternatives to land titling may be more effective in guaranteeing the land rights of African farmers in situations of growing land tenure change and uncertainty. © 1990 Pergamon Press plc.