Em Moçambique há um forte apoio à agricultura sustentável: métodos como sistemas agroflorestais e agricultura de conservação são promovidos cada vez mais pelo Ministério da Agricultura, a sociedade civil, organizações de camponeses e agências de desenvolvimento. Resultados de investigações sugerem que essas práticas aumentam a produtividade, são mais resilientes e economicamente acessíveis. Apesar disso, a adoção pelos pequenos produtores permanece baixa.

Charcoal is the main cooking energy source for people living in Maputo city. It is also a crucial source of income for rural producers in Mabalane district, a key supplier of Maputo’s charcoal. But Mabalane’s forests — which provide the wood for charcoal — also supply rural populations with construction materials, firewood and food. Our research shows that the lack of community management in Mabalane’s charcoal trade has disadvantaged communities, widening income inequality and causing ecological depletion.

The need to establish the link between land tenure and food security is increasingly gaining currency as governments and development organizations refocus their effort towards assisting farmers to move away from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. It is argued that given how land plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of most Africans, food security and poverty reduction cannot be achieved unless issues of access to land, security of tenure and the capacity to use land productively and in a sustainable manner are addressed.

Quando perto de metade da população está abaixo do limiar da pobreza, não é errado concluir que se está perante um “fracasso” dos diferentes planos e políticas desenhadas e implementadas pelo Governo de Moçambique. Assim, surge a questão central deste Destaque Rural: Quais as armadilhas da pobreza e as estratégias de produção dos pequenos produtores do Sul do Save?

In the developed countries less than 20 per cent of the population is engaged in agriculture. The rest is employed in the industrial sector. In the underdeveloped countries less than 10 per cent of the population is employed in the industrial sector and the rest is engaged in agriculture. At once this dictates that, for some time to come, the route to development in the latter countries will depend on agriculture, which also mainly depends on land policy and tenure. The land question is a contradiction in land rights and consequential social, economic and political abuses replicated on it.

Equitable access to land is vital for inclusive economic growth, sustainable development and food security. Although much is known about the topics of land governance and food security, it is not always clear how the two relate to each other, especially in specific country contexts. This reflection paper, based on literature, LANDac country factsheets and three learning trajectories initiated by LANDac in Uganda, Ghana and Ethiopia, brings together findings and outcomes to provide policy recommendations for improved land governance and food security in Africa.

Food security in Uganda relies mainly on access to land and security of tenure. Land governance is marked by the contradiction between relatively progressive legislation and only partial implementation. Institutions that have to deal with land administration and land disputes, such as customary authority systems, local government, and special courts for land justice, have weakened in the last years. Women’s position with respect to land and inheritance also remains weak, both legally and in practice, undermining their livelihoods and status in society.

Municipal commonage, used as a common resource for communities, poses a unique opportunity for rural development and land and agrarian reform. The law says that municipal commonage must be used to contribute towards land reform. It must be made available for agricultural purposes to those who were previously excluded from accessing commonages.

Poor town residents who want to engage in agricultural activities must therefore organise to demand access to municipal commonage. This booklet will help you to understand the law, access commonage and use commonage. 

[AFR] Munisipale meentgrond skep ’n unieke geleentheid vir landelike ontwikkeling en grond- en agrariese hervorming. Wetgewing bepaal dat munisipale meentgrond moet bydra tot grondhervorming. Meente moet beskikbaar gemaak word vir landboudoeleindes vir diegene wat voorheen toegang tot die soort grond ontsê is. Arm dorpsinwoners wat wil deelneem aan landbou, moet saamspan om toegang tot munisipale meentgrond op te eis.

[XHOSA} Umhlaba wesisa kamasipala lusiphathela ithuba elilodwa lophuhliso lwamaphandle nohlaziyo kwezemihlaba nezolimo. Umthetho usixelela ukuba umhlaba wesisa kamasipala kufuneka ube negalelo kuhlaziyo kwezemihlaba apho uthi wenziwe ufumaneke ukuze usetyenziselwe ulimo ngabo babesakuya bengavumelekanga kwixa langaphambili ukuba

bafumane imihlaba yeziza zikamasipala. Abahlali basezidolophini abahluphekileyo nabanqwenela

ukuzibandakanya kwiinkuthalo zolimo kufuneka ngoko bacebe ukwenza amabango okufumana umhlaba wesisa kamasipala.

[ENG] 

The Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG) project, MLIKE (Mekong Land Information and Knowledge Exchange),  and the Land Portal co-facilitated an online dialogue on “Responsible Large Scale Agricultural Investments in the Mekong Region” on 09-27 October 2017. The full dialogue can be read here. This report delineates the key messages emerging from the dialogue.

This report prepared by FAO explores the challenges and opportunities represented by the complex interrelationship between forests, agriculture and sustainable development. It demonstrates that the sustainable management of both forests and agriculture, and their integration in land-use plans, is essential for achieving the SDGs, ensuring food security and tackling climate change.