Land, Territorial Development and Family Farming in Angola

Land, Territorial Development and Family Farming in Angola

Descripción

Land has always been central to the social and economic development of any country. However as global pressures on land and natural resources are increasing, land issues, in particular land governance, are receiving growing international attention. Despite the legal frameworks that determine how land is accessed, secured and used, significant gaps remain between the intent of these laws and policies and their effective implementation. It is this failure of implementation which often leads to the further marginalization of underrepresented groups and the exacerbation of conflict over land. Angola is no exception: nine years have passed since the new land law was published, six years since it was regulated, and yet a very limited application of the legal package that protects and guarantees the rights of rural communities has been put into practice by the Angolan government. For family farming in Angola, which is by far the most significant sector in Angola’s agriculture system, these po licy and institutional shortcomings add further complexity to an already difficult rural existence. Increasing impacts from climate change, land tenure conflicts from foreign agricultural investment, and food insecurity are challenges faced by Angolan family farmers, which are exacerbated by incomplete implementation of the legal frameworks related to land and natural resources.