WAEC Agricultural Science 1997 Theory question 101

Theory question 101

Land Use and Land Tenure

Discuss briefly the essential features of the following: (a) communal land tenure. (b) individual land tenure and their effects on agriculture.

Show the model answer
Model answer

(a) Communal: land belongs to the community/family; allocated to members by the head; members have use rights only; cannot be sold or used as collateral. Effects: land cannot secure loans; small scattered plots hinder mechanisation; permanent crops discouraged as land may be re-allocated; but every member gets land to farm
(b) Individual: land owned by one person through purchase, gift or inheritance; owner has full rights to use, develop, sell or lease. Effects: secure ownership encourages permanent crops and investment; land can be used as collateral; easier mechanisation and large farms; but land may be fragmented and expensive, and some people become landless

Explanation

Give features first, then effects on farming for each.