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Land Sector Reforms in Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam: A Comparative Analysis of Their Effectiveness

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Narh

    (Farafina Institute, Kanzleistraße 14, 95511 Mistelbach, Germany)

  • Cosmas Kombat Lambini

    (Bayreuth Center for Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Universitaetstr. 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
    Bayreuth Graduate School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (BayNAT), University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany)

  • Matthew Sabbi

    (Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS), University of Bayreuth, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 3, 95445 Bayreuth, Germany)

  • Van Dien Pham

    (Department of Silviculture, Forestry University, Hanoi, Vietnam)

  • Trung Thanh Nguyen

    (Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade, Leibniz University of Hannover, Königsworther Platz 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany)

Abstract

The notion that the formal titling and individualization of land rights in developing countries lead to higher investments in land and agricultural productivity holds sway in academic and development circles. In this paper, this notion is analyzed based on a comparative study of land reform programs and their implications for access to land, credit, and agricultural investments in Ghana, Kenya, and Vietnam. It focuses on how different access routes to land influence access to credit, and the transaction costs of land reform programs for agricultural investments. The paper concludes that in developing countries, the transaction costs of land reforms for investments can significantly increase if the influence of power is not addressed in order to reduce unequal access to land. The practical implementation of land reform is influenced by many factors, including the control on political power. Thus, measures must accompany implementation to check the use of power to derail land reform objectives. Moreover, the paper supports the argument that land reforms should be implemented in their local contexts so as to have positive effects on agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Narh & Cosmas Kombat Lambini & Matthew Sabbi & Van Dien Pham & Trung Thanh Nguyen, 2016. "Land Sector Reforms in Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam: A Comparative Analysis of Their Effectiveness," Land, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:5:y:2016:i:2:p:8-:d:66698
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. David Asante Edwin & Evam Kofi Glover & Edinam K. Glover, 2020. "When Tradition Meets Modernity in Land Registration: Evidence from Dagbon, Ghana," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-28, October.
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    9. Ateka, Josiah & Onono-Okelo, Perez Ayieko & Etyang, Martin, 2021. "Does the inverse farm size productivity hypothesis hold for perennial monocrop systems in developing countries? Evidence from Kenya," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 16(3), September.

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