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Effects of Land Certification for Rural Farm Households in Ethiopia: Evidence from Gozamin District, Ethiopia

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  • Abebaw Andarge Gedefaw

    (Institute of Geomatics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Peter Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
    Institute of Land Administration, Debre Markos University (DMU), Debre Markos 269, Ethiopia)

  • Clement Atzberger

    (Institute of Geomatics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Peter Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Walter Seher

    (Institute of Spatial Planning, Environmental Planning and Land Rearrangement, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Peter Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu

    (Institute of Land Administration, Debre Markos University (DMU), Debre Markos 269, Ethiopia)

  • Reinfried Mansberger

    (Institute of Geomatics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Peter Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Economic theory notes tenure security is a critical factor in agricultural investment and productivity. Therefore, several African countries’ development initiatives enabled land titling to enhance tenure security. This paper examines the effect of land certification on tenure security, land investment, crop productivity and land dispute in Gozamin District, Ethiopia. In addition, the impact of land certification on farm households’ perceptions and confidence in land tenure and land use rights is investigated. Face-to-face interviews with 343 randomly selected farm households, group discussions and expert panels are the sources of primary data. Quantitative data are analyzed using various statistical tools and complemented by qualitative data. According to the results, most farm households (56%) feel that their land use rights are secure after the certification process. Only 17% fear that the government at any time could take their land use rights. The majority of farm households (71.7%) identified a reduction of disputes after certification and land management practices improved from 70.3% before certification to 90.1% after certification. As key factors for the increase of terracing and the application of manure, the study determined total farm size, the average distance from farm to homestead, perception of degradation, access to credit, training to land resource management, fear about land take-over by the government and total livestock holdings. Crop productivity improved significantly after land certification. The results should encourage policy makers to minimize the sources of insecurity, such as frustrations of future land redistribution and land taking without proper land compensation. Land certification is the right tool for creating tenure security, enhancing farmers’ confidence in their land rights and—supported by a proper land use planning system—improving land-related investments and crop productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Abebaw Andarge Gedefaw & Clement Atzberger & Walter Seher & Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu & Reinfried Mansberger, 2020. "Effects of Land Certification for Rural Farm Households in Ethiopia: Evidence from Gozamin District, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-23, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:11:p:421-:d:437631
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    5. Bichaye Tesfaye & Monica Lengoiboni & Jaap Zevenbergen & Belay Simane, 2023. "Rethinking the Impact of Land Certification on Tenure Security, Land Disputes, Land Management, and Agricultural Production: Insights from South Wello, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-25, September.

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