Of the nation's 122.2 million hectares of total area, 84.1 million hectares of land and 12.1 million hectares of water and water courses comprise the potentially productive cultivable land and water resources of the nation. At present, only 10.4 per cent of the total land area i.e. 12.9 million hectares is put under cultivation of which 9 to 91/2 million hectares have actually "been planted and harvested. Agriculture, the dominant sector of the country's economy is not only a goldmine in terms of potential but also a real source of wealth.

The consultative workshop, which took place 27-29 March 2006 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Addis Ababa, was the first step in the process of developing a land policy framework and guidelines. The discussions were informed by an issues/discussion paper, and brought together representatives from African governments, Regional Economic Communities, Civil Society including farmers' organizations, African private sector, Centres of Excellence and Development Partners.

L’Ethiopie dispose d’un potentiel agricole considérable, il existe plusieurs obstacles fondamentaux sur la voie des l’exploitation de ce potentiel.

African land tenure problems, just like those of the African family, are exceedingly complex and baffling. With its ethnic diversity, Cameroon is an inextricable tangle of different concepts of title to land. Yet, except in the overpopulated areas and some times in the towns, the tensions stemming from land tenure problems were practically unknown in Cameroon until about thirty years ago. Owing to economic development and particularly the overpopulation of certain sectors, and the development of the towns, the government was forced to intervene in land tenure questions.

This paper focuses on compendium on cadastral regulations and land tenure policies in Africa. This compendium on cadastral regulations and land tenure policies m Africa covering both English and French speaking countries is prepared under the terms of reference of U.N. Economic Commission for Africa. The reader of this compendium may not find it quite up-to-date in the case of all countries.

The aim of this initiative is to help the States to re-think their land policies in line with their national realities, and to ensure that they are effectively and efficiently implemented. The current issues involving new land policies in Africa include consolidation of peace, sustainable use of natural resources, promotion of economic growth and poverty reduction.