The Contribution of Land Certification to Land Management Practices- The Case Study of Dandi District, West Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State

Abstract

This study investigated farmers’ perceived land tenure security after they received land holding certificate, identified the contribution of rural land certification to land management practices, and the major challenges related to land management practices in Dandi District –West Shewa Zone of Oromia National Regional State. Primary data for the study were collected through household questionnaire, focus group discussions and key informants interviews. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics such as tables, percentages, and chi-square and t-test analyses. The result showed that farmers’ perceived land tenure security was improved in post land certification and the majority of the households felt more secured in their land holding as a result of land certification. Land management practice undertaken by farmers has been increased after they received land certification. The study also identified that both governmental and non-governmental organizations played vital roles in promoting land management practices and in supporting farmers to practice different types of land management activities. Lack of clear demarcation, presence of some sort of tenure insecurity, planting specific tree species and the decline of other indigenous trees and financial constraint were some of the challenges that the study identified in relation to land tenure security and land management practices. For the implementation of the envisaged land management measures and further enhancement of farmers’ efforts towards sustainable land management, credit facilities should be made available to farmers and stakeholders and concerned institutions should integrate their efforts towards diversifying the types of tree species planted by the farmers and emphasis should be given to promote and avail seeds and seedlings of indigenous trees and the construction of soil bund terrace for better and sustainable land management outcome. Furthermore, parcels of households need to be clearly demarcated and sketched with the help of cadastral mapping system, and farmers should be provided with a sketched map of their parcels with their holding certificate as a legal document.