Fresh insights from new research shaping Africa’s food systems, resilience, and economic development
Key Insight of the Week
Secure land tenure can influence both farmers’ crop choices and their willingness to invest in agricultural inputs. New IFPRI research from Nigeria finds that greater tenure security is associated with increased investment in fertilizers and pesticides, while also shaping crop portfolios.
Featured Report of the Week
Land tenure security, crop choices, and agricultural input investment decisions: Evidence from national survey data in Nigeria(OA) by Olanrewaju, Opeyemi; Kirui, Oliver K.; Popoola, Olufemi; Bamiwuye, Temilolu; Nwagboso, Chibuzo; Fasoranti, Adetunji
How does land tenure security influence farmers’ production decisions? In this week’s Evidence for Africa, IFPRI researchers examine how perceived land tenure security affects crop choices and agricultural input investments among smallholder farmers in rural Nigeria.
Using data from the Nigeria Living Standards Measurement Study–Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA), the study finds that greater tenure security increases the probability of cultivating grains and cereals while reducing the likelihood of growing legumes, pulses, and horticultural crops, suggesting a shift toward grain specialization.
The analysis also shows that stronger land tenure security is associated with higher use of agricultural inputs. A one-unit increase in the tenure security index is associated with a 9.93% increase in organic fertilizer use, a 6.57% increase in inorganic fertilizer use, and a 0.89% increase in pesticide use.
The study further finds stronger investment effects among youth-headed households, while impacts on female-managed plots are not statistically significant. The authors conclude that combining tenure formalization with crop diversification support, gender- and youth-sensitive land governance, and input market development could help maximize productivity gains from land rights reforms in Nigeria.
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About Evidence for Africa
Evidence for Africa highlights every week recent IFPRI research and insights relevant to the continent’s food systems, economic development, and policy priorities.
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