Gender Differences in Land Property Rights: How Land Tenure Security Impacts Investments and Agricultural Productivity in Tanzania

Feb 26, 2020 | University of London School of Oriental and East Asian Studies
London, UK
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The agricultural sector in Tanzania accounts for more than two-thirds of employment and has recorded persistent low levels of investment and productivity. Among other factors, land right conflicts and resulting tenure insecurity have been highlighted as potential constraints for improving development outcomes in the sector. This study examines the effects of different degrees of land tenure security on agricultural investment and productivity among smallholder farmers in Tanzania.

Building on the Tanzania National Panel Surveys (TNPS) for 2010/11, 2012/13, and 2014/15, we find econometric evidence that land titles associated with different degrees of tenure security have significant effects on agricultural investment and productivity. Moreover, we reveal a gender dimension to the positive relationship between land tenure security, land investment and agricultural productivity, with women being relatively more affected by land tenure insecurity.

The findings of this study support the assertions that increasing tenure security plays an important role in reducing rural poverty through agricultural productivity, natural resource management, and socio-economic inequalities.

Background working paper: Ajefu, J. and Andreoni, A. (2020) ‘Gender Differences in Land Property Rights: How land tenure security impacts investments and agricultural productivity in Tanzania’, SOAS ACE Working paper, available at: https://ace.soas.ac.uk/

Who: SOAS

Where: London, UK

When: 26 February 2020