Discuss briefly the essential features of the following (a) communal land tenure (b) individual land tenure and their effects on Agriculture

Answer Details

(a) Communal land tenure

Essential features:

• Land is owned collectively by the whole community, village or extended family.
• It is controlled and administered by the community head, chief or family head.
• Individual members are allocated portions to use but cannot sell or permanently own the land.
• Rights of use are passed down through generations, and every member has access to land.

Effects on agriculture:

• Insecurity of tenure discourages farmers from planting permanent/tree crops or improving the land.
• Land cannot easily be used as collateral to obtain loans.
• Fragmentation of holdings discourages mechanization, though it does guarantee land access for all members.

(b) Individual land tenure

Essential features:

• Land is owned by an individual who has full rights over it.
• The owner can use, sell, lease, mortgage or bequeath the land.
• Ownership is usually backed by a title deed or certificate of ownership.

Effects on agriculture:

• Security of ownership encourages long-term investment, permanent crops and land improvement.
• The land can be used as collateral to secure agricultural loans.
• Consolidated holdings encourage mechanization, though the system may lead to landlessness for the poor and to land speculation.