Land, the cornerstone of agriculture in West Africa, remains at the heart of challenges related to food security and the empowerment of vulnerable populations.
In this interview with APA on the sidelines of the 16th meeting of the FAO multidisciplinary team in Praia, Cabo Verde, Adin Bloukounon Goubalan, Agriculture Officer at the FAO Subregional Office, discusses the plurality of land tenure systems, the difficulties of access for women and the initiatives needed to ensure sustainable and inclusive land management in a context marked by insecurity and social inequalities.
When we talk about agriculture in West Africa, we cannot ignore land.
What is the current state of affairs regarding the links between agriculture and land in the region?
First of all, let me remind you that FAO’s mandate is to fight hunger and guarantee access to sufficient food for all, at all times and everywhere. However, in Africa, agriculture is essentially based on land. Unlike modern approaches such as vertical or soilless farming, our agriculture is largely practiced by smallholders using the soil directly.
Land is the primary factor of production. You may have labour, financial capital, or agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, but without land, it is impossible to produce. This is why the issue of land is central to the debate on food security and food systems.
In West Africa, land tenure is characterized by a plurality of standards. There are mainly three types of land rights.
The first is customary land law, which concerns communities historically settled on rural land and whose rights are now recognized by the land codes of several countries.
Then, public land law establishes the ownership of certain land by the State, allowing the latter to declare it of public utility if necessary.
Third, individual or private land law applies to individuals who have purchased land, whether rural or urban, for agricultural activities.
However, despite reforms to increase access to land, challenges persist, particularly for women. In most communities, their right to land is recognized on paper, but its enforceability remains limited.
Why do these reforms struggle to ensure effective access to land for women and vulnerable groups?
There are several reasons for this situation. On the one hand, local authorities often lack the human and technical resources to implement these reforms. On the other hand, customary mentalities and practices continue to exclude women. For example, in many cases of inheritance, women are sidelined.
This exclusion has serious repercussions. Rural women, often de facto heads of household, depend mainly on agriculture to provide for their children. Without property rights, they cannot adopt sustainable agricultural practices, such as planting trees, investing in organic fertilization or preserving soil fertility. They therefore remain in precarious subsistence agriculture.
What can FAO do to support States and promote initiatives such as that of Guinea-Bissau, where women have been empowered in terms of access to land?
FAO works with governments and civil society to strengthen land rights for women and vulnerable groups. We also support local authorities in their efforts to implement reforms. In Guinea-Bissau, for example, the implementation of projects that allow women to access collective land ownership is an inspiring model. This type of approach, based on groups, guarantees better land security and promotes sustainable agriculture.
Going beyond cash transfers or agricultural subsidies is crucial. The acquisition and allocation of land to women’s groups could transform access to land and improve their resilience.
In a context of insecurity, particularly in the Sahel, how can we guarantee access to land for displaced populations while avoiding conflicts related to its use?
Insecurity increases pressure on land. Internally displaced populations are often resettled on land that may already be claimed by other vulnerable communities. This requires close coordination between governments, UN agencies and local authorities to avoid conflicts.
Land allocations must be free from disputes, and the needs of all parties, including host communities, must be taken into account. Land management in crisis situations is delicate. This is why it is essential to raise awareness among local actors and build their capacity to manage these issues in a just and inclusive manner.
AC/Sf/fss/gik/APA