In mid-July, the G-8 nations announced a $20 billion commitment to help farmers in developing countries increase their food production. Although these efforts are intended to increase food supplies and agricultural productivity over the short run, long-term institutional change is needed to help farmers improve output beyond one or two seasons. One major reform that would help farmers across Africa is increased attention to problems of land tenure security.

Land tenure security refers to the right of individuals and groups of people to effective protection by their government against forcible evictions. Achieving land tenure reform is by no means an easy or quick process. However, the benefits over the long term can lead to substantial gains for smallholder farmers' competitiveness. 

Citation (Chicago-Style)

Boudreaux, Karol and Daniel Sacks. "Land Tenure Security and Agricultural Productivity," Mercatus on Policy no 57. Mercatus Center at George Mason University, 2009.