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Perceived land tenure security and rural transformation: Empirical evidence from Ghana:

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  • Ghebru, Hosaena
  • Khan, Huma
  • Lambrecht, Isabel

Abstract

Tenure security is believed to be critical in spurring agricultural investment and productivity. Yet what improves or impedes tenure security is still poorly understood. Using household- and plot-level data from Ghana, this study analyzes the main factors associated with farmers’ perceived tenure security. Individually, farmers perceive greater tenure security on plots acquired via purchase or inheritance than on land allocated by traditional authorities. Collectively, however, perceived tenure security lessens in communities with more active land markets and economic vibrancy. Migrant households and women in polygamous households feel less secure about their tenure, while farmers with political connections are more confident about their tenure security.

Suggested Citation

  • Ghebru, Hosaena & Khan, Huma & Lambrecht, Isabel, 2016. "Perceived land tenure security and rural transformation: Empirical evidence from Ghana:," IFPRI discussion papers 1545, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:ifprid:1545
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    Cited by:

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    2. Olagunju, Kehinde Oluseyi & Olagunju, Kehinde Ademola & Ogunniyi, Adebayo Isaiah & Omotayo, Abiodun Olusola & Oyetunde-Usman, Zainab, 2023. "To own or not to own? Land tenure security and production risk in small-scale farming," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    3. Emmanuel Olatunbosun Benjamin, 2020. "Smallholder Agricultural Investment and Productivity under Contract Farming and Customary Tenure System: A Malawian Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Frances Warren, 2023. "Population density, urbanisation and agricultural mechanisation in modern Ghana," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 1605-1629, August.
    5. Edeh, Hyacinth O. & Mavrotas, George & Balana, Bedru B., 2022. "Land tenure security and preferences to dispute resolution pathways among landholders in Nigeria," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

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    Keywords

    land tenure; land rights; gender; land reform;
    All these keywords.

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