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Land fragmentation and food insecurity in Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Knippenberg,Erwin Willem Yvonnick Leon
  • Jolliffe,Dean Mitchell
  • Hoddinott,John

Abstract

This paper revisits the economic consequences of land fragmentation, taking seriously concerns regarding the exogeneity of fragmentation, its measurement and the importance of considering impacts in terms of welfare metrics. Using data that are well-suited to addressing these issues, the analysis finds that land fragmentation reduces food insecurity. This result is robust to how fragmentation is measured and to how exogeneity concerns are addressed. Further, the paper finds that land fragmentation mitigates the adverse effects of low rainfall on food security. This is because households with diverse parcel characteristics can grow a greater variety of crop types.

Suggested Citation

  • Knippenberg,Erwin Willem Yvonnick Leon & Jolliffe,Dean Mitchell & Hoddinott,John, 2018. "Land fragmentation and food insecurity in Ethiopia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8559, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:8559
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    Cited by:

    1. Cocco, Valentin & Chakir, Raja & Mouysset, Lauriane, 2025. "Guilty or scapegoat? Land consolidation and hedgerow decline," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    2. Luis Orea & José A. Pérez‐Méndez & Inmaculada Álvarez, 2024. "Does land consolidation promote livestock production and combat rural depopulation in northern Spain?," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(3), pages 847-868, September.
    3. Żanna Stręk & Przemysław Leń & Justyna Wójcik-Leń & Paweł Postek & Monika Mika & Leszek Dawid, 2021. "A Proposed Land Exchange Algorithm for Eliminating the External Plot Patchwork," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, January.
    4. Asmamaw Mulusew & Mingyong Hong, 2024. "A dynamic linkage between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and agricultural productivity: evidence from Ethiopia," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Tuyen Quang Tran & Huong Van Vu, 2021. "The impact of land fragmentation on food security in the North Central Coast, Vietnam," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(2), pages 327-345, May.
    6. Klaus W. Deininger & Thea Hilhorst & Zevenbergen,Jaap & Nkurunziza,Emmanuel, 2025. "Capitalizing on Digital Transformation to Enhance the Effectiveness of Property Institutions : Conceptual Background and Evidence from 85 Countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11100, The World Bank.
    7. Asiama, Kwabena Obeng & Voss, Winrich & Bennett, Rohan & Rubanje, Innocent, 2021. "Land consolidation activities in Sub-Saharan Africa towards the agenda 2030: A tale of three countries," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    8. Yu, Mingzhao & Li, Huafu & Song, Shuai & Shan, Xinyue & He, Guizhen & Li, Fadong & Shi, Yajuan & Hirwa, Hubert & Chen, Gang, 2025. "Addressing Ethiopia's grand challenge of achieving food security while ensuring land-use sustainability," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    9. Abebaw Andarge Gedefaw & Clement Atzberger & Walter Seher & Reinfried Mansberger, 2019. "Farmers Willingness to Participate In Voluntary Land Consolidation in Gozamin District, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-21, October.
    10. Ndip, Francis Ebai & Molua, Ernest L. & Mvodo, Meyo-Elise Stephanie & Nkendah, Robert & Djomo Choumbou, Raoul Fani & Tabetando, Rayner & Akem, Nina Fabinin, 2023. "Farmland Fragmentation, crop diversification and incomes in Cameroon, a Congo Basin country," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    11. Takada, Jun & Shuto, Hisato, 2023. "Causal linkages between land reform and factor demand under tenure insecurity: Evidence from Amhara Region, Ethiopia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    12. Phuc Van Phan & Martin O'Brien, 2022. "Is small beautiful? An empirical analysis of land characteristics and rural household income in Vietnam," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(3), pages 561-580, July.
    13. Abebaw, Degnet & Admassie, Assefa & Kassa, Habtemariam & Padoch, Christine, 2020. "Can rural outmigration improve household food security? Empirical evidence from Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    14. Shukun Wang & Dengwang Li & Tingting Li & Changquan Liu, 2021. "Land Use Transitions and Farm Performance in China: A Perspective of Land Fragmentation," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-22, July.
    15. Gatterer, Markus & Leonhardt, Heidi & Salhofer, Klaus & Morawetz, Ulrich, 2024. "The legacy of partible inheritance on farmland fragmentation: Evidence from Austria," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    16. Jin, Yitian & Zhang, Kunyang & Luo, Yi & Wu, Laping, 2025. "Does land leasing encourage ecological conservation practices among Chinese maize farmers?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    17. Eder, Andreas & Salhofer, Klaus & Quddoos, Abdul, 2024. "The impact of cereal crop diversification on farm labor productivity under changing climatic conditions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    18. Pierre Damien Ntihinyurwa & Walter Timo de Vries, 2021. "Farmland Fragmentation, Farmland Consolidation and Food Security: Relationships, Research Lapses and Future Perspectives," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-39, January.
    19. Georgina Milne & Andrew William Byrne & Emma Campbell & Jordon Graham & John McGrath & Raymond Kirke & Wilma McMaster & Jesko Zimmermann & Adewale Henry Adenuga, 2022. "Quantifying Land Fragmentation in Northern Irish Cattle Enterprises," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, March.
    20. Nguyen Thai Phan & Ji-Yong Lee & Nguyen Duc Kien, 2022. "The Impact of Land Fragmentation in Rice Production on Household Food Insecurity in Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-12, September.

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