Transcript Document
“Quasi-formalization of informal” land markets in communal areas to facilitate increased arable production: A case study of Thaba Nchu, Free State Province M.N.Baiphethi, S. Manona, M.F. Viljoen & G. Kundhlande Background • WRC funding a 5 year research project in rural villages around Thaba Nchu: Social and economic factors affecting the adoption of rainwater harvesting and conservation practices. • The project follows on other WRC funded projects in the same area that aimed at the improving arable production through the use of IRWH techniques developed by ARCISCW • The success of IRWH on homestead gardens, led the community embarking on a drive to extend (upscale) the technique to the arable fields • A soils analysis (soilscape) of the arable fields was undertaken (Hensley et al., 2007). • Arable soil survey found suitable area of land was 1,177 ha in Gladstone and 183 ha in Feloane and Potsane. Objectives • Develop a land register for all high potential arable land in the villages of Potsane, Feloane and Gladstone • Provide accurate information and clarity on land sizes, land rights on all arable fields • To provide a tool that will be understood by community members in support of local land administration systems Methodology/processes • Initial consultation with statutory bodies, • Initial consultation with the community, • Tache Survey and creation of a land register • Final consultation and development of rules and regulations Land register Code Ownership Size (Ha) 23 Moipone Ntono 3.58 24 Ben Mothupi 12.23 25 Ben Mothupi 3.13 Land utilization YES NO 70 60 50 40 Frequency 30 20 10 0 Grow crops Use home garden Own livestock Interest in land exchanges In favour of land exchange. Reason Frequency (N) Percentage (%) 1. In support of land exchange agreements 54 68 Not interested in arable production. 1 2 Too old to work the fields. 8 19 Household unable to cultivate fields. 25 60 Assist those without arable fields. 8 19 Total 42 100 2. Against Land exchange agreements 25 32 Interested to use the field 21 95 Afraid to lose rights to arable land 1 5 Total 22 100 Land exchange arrangements and duration Arrangement Frequency (N) Proportion of sample (%) Sale 2 3 Lease 5 6 Share-cropping 36 46 Free loan 12 15 Total 55 70 1-2 years 2-4 years 5-6 years More than 6 years 15% 33% 11% 41% total Processes and structures Local Land Admin Committee (DLA, DoA, Tribal Authority, LM, Ward Com.) Tribal authority notes agreement Headman & ward comm. record agreement & sign it off Agreement between consenting individuals. Conclusions • General willingness to extend cultivation to arable fields • 70% of the land rights holders will participate in land exchange arrangements. • • • • “Outright sale” (3%), Lease arrangement (6%), Share-cropping (46%) Free loan (15%) . • Therefore scope for vibrant rural land market • Development or rules and regulations to effect the innovation Acknowledgements • Financial support from the WRC • TIPS for funding participation in this conference