Preliminary Findings on Land Tenure Reform in Malawi and the Possible Effects on Tenure and Food Security for Smallholder Farmers

This article aims to provide a preliminary analysis as to possible areas where customary land tenure reform will affect land security and food security for semi-rural smallholder farmers in Malawi, with a view towards conducting further research as tenure reform is rolled out. The Malawi National Land Policy (MNLP) aims to change customary tenure laws, emphasising secure titling held by an individual or family. This is, in part, based on the assumption that individual titling will increase tenure security, thereby changing farm practice, increasing land rental and providing access to credit and (through these) increasing food security. This article reviews academic literature on land reform and the links between tenure security and certain aspects of livelihoods in a southern African context. The article also briefly compares its assertions to fieldwork that examined how 12 smallholder farmers living in three villages near Nkhata Bay in central Malawi perceived their land tenure security and the link between this and their food security. Respondents in the case study believed that they had secure tenure; however, they used social networks and connections to support their land claims and their perception of tenure had limited influence on the land security of those studied. The article uses the farming practices, rental habits and credit opportunities of these farmers to shape a discussion of the relevant academic literature with a view towards further study as the MNLP is rolled out.