Foreign land investments and the survival of small-scale farmers in copper belt province of Zambia

Abstract

This study was undertaken with the objective of examining the impacts of foreign land investments on the survival of small-scale farmers in Zambia. Nevertheless, the study generates knowledge, provides insights, raises awareness, suggestions and foster constructive dialogue aimed at designing and implementing more effective strategies and policies that would enhance agricultural productivity among small-scale farmers in Zambia. Small-scale farmers can play an important role in Zambia in terms of overcoming poverty, enhancing food security and stimulating growth in other sectors of the economy. Despite their potential, the Zambian government in collaboration with multinationals continue to stifle their latent potential by evicting small-scale farmers who are living on communal lands. Underpinning these foreign land investments is the longstanding failure of the Zambian government to recognise, in law and practice, the communal land rights of small-scale farmers. Relying on the neo-classical property rights approach, the thesis argues that the creation of more secure property rights, and enforcement of these rights, is essential in motivating small-scale farmers to make the kinds of short and long-term fixed investments in their farms that will increase agricultural productivity and raise rural household incomes. Likewise, transformations which reinforce the property rights of small-scale farmers and ensure that their land cannot be alienated or otherwise used without their consent are necessary. Therefore, obtaining secure property rights is critical to rural development and recognition of small-scale farmers in the country’s agricultural framework. Although, the thesis focused only on Zambia as the case study, the findings may provide an example for other Sub-Saharan countries on how to improve the tenure and productivity of small-scale farmers.