Land ownership drive excites communities
Smallholder farmers in Kasungu have said the land registration exercise being implemented in the district will reduce disputes.
Speaking on Monday when smallholder farmers received their land ownership certificates, Rita Phiri, 68, said as a farmer, owning land was important for investment.
She said: “Previously, family members used to grab our land. But with the certificate my land is safe.
“I can now plan on how to develop the land without interference.”
On his part, Senior Chief Lukwa said the programme will save traditional leaders from solving land disputes.
“Smallholder farmers, especially women, will now have the opportunity to own land,” he said.
In his remarks, Ministry of Lands geographic information system specialist Masida Mbano said the certificates will guarantee security to the farmers’ land
“Let us take good care of the certificates because they are the only warrant we have to our land. No one can grab our land because the certificates will be our witness,” he said.
Mbano also said the certificates can be used as surety to get loans from banks.
The land registration project started in 2015 on a pilot phase in Phalombe, Kasungu and Rumphi districts, targeting 3 000 households.
In Kasungu, 1 124 land parcels have been registered, translating to 2 205 hectares from 685 households.
The project seeks to strengthen land governance system for smallholder farmers in Malawi.
Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy in partnership with Oxfam in Malawi, Landnet and Malawi Government are implementing the project in Kasungu.
