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Assessing the impact of land tenure security on farm-level investment in soil and water conservation practices: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Mkandawire, Nicholas D.
  • Mangisoni, Julius
  • Pangapanga, Innocent
  • Machila, Kennedy

Abstract

The pursuit of sustainable agricultural investment and the transformation of smallholder farming into commercially viable enterprises is gaining increasing traction, with land tenure security emerging as a critical factor in de-risking agricultural investment. This study examines the impact of land tenure security on farmers’ investment decisions in irrigation and soil and water conservation (SWC) practices in Malawi, specifically vetiver grass, tree belts, water bunds, drainage ditches, and terraces. These practices are central to climate-resilient and productivity-enhancing agriculture. Using survey data from 1947 plots across 893 farmers, we apply a two-stage conditional maximum likelihood multivariate probit model to assess the impact of land tenure security on farmers' investment decisions, while explicitly addressing potential endogeneity and reverse causality. This study advances the literature on land tenure security by providing rigorous, context-specific evidence from Malawi on how community-based land demarcation (CBLD) influences smallholder farmers’ adoption of resilience- and productivity-enhancing investments, while also shedding light on gender-differentiated investment patterns, synergies among soil and water conservation practices, and applying an innovative econometric framework that strengthens causal inference. The study results reveal that establishing well-defined land boundaries directly translates into increased investment in water bunds, drainage ditches, and irrigation, but not in vetiver grass, tree belts, or terraces. These findings underscore the important role of secure land rights in enabling on-farm investments essential for market-oriented smallholder farming transformation. We thus recommend strengthening grassroots land governance structures, such as customary land committees and land tribunals, and championing community-led efforts in boundary delineation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mkandawire, Nicholas D. & Mangisoni, Julius & Pangapanga, Innocent & Machila, Kennedy, 2025. "Assessing the impact of land tenure security on farm-level investment in soil and water conservation practices: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Malawi," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:159:y:2025:i:c:s0264837725003370
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107803
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