The Role of Land Tenure Security for Smallholder Farmers in National Development: A policy discussion brief by the Land Core Group of the Food Security Working Group

TitleThe Role of Land Tenure Security for Smallholder Farmers in National Development: A policy discussion brief by the Land Core Group of the Food Security Working Group
Annotated RecordAnnotated
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsLand_Core_Group(LCG), Food_Security_Working_Group(FSWG)
Pagination1-12
Key themesFormalisation-titling, Gender, MarginalisedPeople, Policy-law
Abstract

This policy discussion brief outlines that smallholder rural land tenure security is critical for pro-poor economic development and national food security. The paper examines why land tenure security for small-holder farmers is important and in what ways it can contribute to reinvigorating rural economic growth, reducing poverty, tackling inequality, improving national food security, social stability, environmental sustainability and good governance. While secure land tenure does not always guarantee any of the above indicators, it is a key component in the process to achieve these goals. This brief draws on a global perspective and refers to regional-specific issues relevant to the present Myanmar context. It aims to inform the debate on land issues in Myanmar in relation to rural and macro-economic development which is at the forefront of the agenda set out by the President under the new Myanmar government. More specifically, it underpins the formal position of the FSWG/LCG in relation to land tenure, namely that: Smallholder land tenure security is a critical foundation for sustainable and equitable national economic development that supports socially and environmentally friendly land management practices
URLhttps://www.lcgmyanmar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2012-Role-of-Land-Tenure-Security-for-Smallholder-Farmers-Eng.pdf
Availability

Available for download
Countries

Myanmar
Document Type

Report

Annotations

Overall relevance: 

The policy brief puts forward a number of arguments to highlight the critical importance of smallholder land tenure security to achieving broad-based development along economic, social and environmental dimensions. The brief warns against current policy trends encouraging increased land concentration by a few companies and individuals, arguing that more equitable land distribution and agricultural support for smallholder farmers leads to increased output and productivity, inclusive economic growth and food security.

Key Themes: 
  • Land rights recognition/formalization/titling/collective tenure - There is evidence showing smallholder farmers are more likely to invest in their land when they have secure land rights. The neoliberal call for ‘turning land into capital’ rests on the idea that rural smallholders can turn their most valuable asset into a household level wealth-generating engine through land titles that can be used as collateral for loans. However, formal land titles may also undermine farmers’ land tenure security by inducing distress sales, acquisition by outsiders, and through speculation. Therefore, increased land tenure security for smallholders must be combined with broader protection of smallholder farmers and sound agricultural policies and support.
  • Marginalized people's land rights and access: ethnic minorities, poor and women - Equitable land distribution is a precondition for more inclusive growth which means giving people fair and equal access to economic opportunity. Secure access to land for the rural majority can also provide an important safety net in times of hardship. Improving access to land for smallholders, which acknowledges the local practices of different ethnic and social groups, is therefore critical to poverty alleviation, food security, and economic growth. In Myanmar, most of the land granted to foreign investors for agribusiness concessions is located in the minority ethnic uplands. Yet, current land laws and policies do not adequately safeguard the land tenure rights of ethnic minorities. This situation has the potential to fuel social and ethnic conflict.
  • Land policy and land law - The brief challenges prevailing views among governments in the Mekong Region that attracting foreign investment in large scale industrial agriculture will modernise agriculture and make use of “unproductive” land. The legal category of “waste land” has served to justify policies and laws that enable the State to reallocate landholdings from smallholder farmers to private investors. The brief instead argues that under the right policy settings, small farms are often more efficient and productive than large scale mono-cropping farming, provide secure employment, and contribute to local and national food production.
Research basis: 

The brief is based on a literature review with a global perspective and refers to issues relevant to Myanmar context.