Land Ownership Structure and Women’s Agricultural Productivity in The Eastern Province of Rwanda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t7067Abstract
Land ownership plays a foundational role in shaping agricultural productivity, particularly for women who comprise a significant portion of the rural farming population. Secure land tenure enhances access to credit, promotes long-term investment, and strengthens decision-making power, making it a critical factor for sustainable agricultural development. Despite progressive reforms in Rwanda such as the 2005 Organic Land Law and the Land Tenure Regularization (LTR) program women in the Eastern Province continue to face practical barriers to land access, control, and utilization. These barriers, often rooted in socio-cultural norms and weak institutional enforcement, undermine the transformative potential of legal reforms. This study assessed the influence of land ownership structures on women’s agricultural productivity in the Eastern Province of Rwanda using a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 327 women in agricultural cooperatives across seven districts. The study evaluated dimensions such as land tenure security, use of land as collateral, and control over agricultural decisions. Findings revealed that 86.3% of respondents agreed that secure land tenure significantly influenced productivity, while 73.8% identified credit access via land collateral as a key investment motivator. Additionally, 81.4% linked income from agricultural produce to secure ownership, and 82.6% cited rental income as an economic benefit. Women with formal land titles in Rwanda achieve higher yields, better decision-making, and greater financial autonomy, though cultural norms and administrative gaps hinder full benefits. Addressing these requires reforms that strengthen women’s land control, credit access, and gender-responsive governance.
Keywords: Land ownership, women farmers, agricultural productivity, Rwanda, land tenure security, gender equity
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