{{Sub-Saharan Africa is home to nearly half of the world\u2019s uncultivated land but the continent has not utilised the resource to secure food security.}}<\/p>\n
The land is estimated at more than 202 million hectares. This can be used to dramatically reduce poverty and boost growth, jobs and shared prosperity. <\/p>\n
According to a new World Bank report, \u201cSecuring Africa\u2019s Land for Shared Prosperity,\u201d released yesterday, African countries and their communities could effectively end \u2018land grabs,\u2019 grow significantly more food across the region and transform development prospects if they can modernise the complex governance procedures that govern land ownership and management over the next decade. <\/p>\n
Africa has the highest poverty rate in the world with 47.5 per cent of the population living below $1.25 (Sh108) a day.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite abundant land and mineral wealth, Africa remains poor,\u201d said Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice-President for Africa.<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cImproving land governance is vital for achieving rapid economic growth and translating it into significantly less poverty and more opportunity for Africans, including women who make up 70 per cent of Africa\u2019s farmers yet are locked out of land ownership due to customary laws,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cThe status quo is unacceptable and must change so that all Africans can benefit from their land.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report notes that more than 90 per cent of Africa\u2019s rural land is undocumented, making it highly vulnerable to land grabbing and expropriation with poor compensation.<\/p>\n
However, based on encouraging evidence from country pilots such as Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda, the report suggests an action plan that could help revolutionise agricultural production, end land grabbing and eradicate extreme poverty in Africa. <\/p>\n
The report suggests that Africa could finally realise the vast development promise of its land over the course of the next decade by championing reforms and investments to document all communal lands and prime lands that are individually owned.<\/p>\n
The report says it would cost African countries and their development partners, including the private sector, $4.5 billion over 10 years to scale up policy reforms and investments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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