Land tenure changes and food security in western Bagamoyo, Tanzania

This study aimed at examining the land tenure changes and its associated impact on food security and community livelihoods at Masuguru and Mkoko villages in western Bagamoyo District. The study determined main changes in land ownership access, use and land transfer processes and their implication to food security. Within the two study villages a sample of one hundred and twenty (120) households was randomly selected to represent the entire population. Various data collection methods were employed in the study including structured interview, in-depth interview, focus group discussion and field observation. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used for data analysis due to various techniques used in gathering information. Data have been presented in different forms such as texts, charts, graphs, tables and photographs. The findings have shown that there are land tenure changes in the area as many people have been selling their land to land speculators from different parts outside western Bagamoyo district. This has changed the customary land tenure as the possession of land turns automatically to other new land owners. The study shows that the change in land tenure has been associated with some socio¬economic factors as many people sell their land in order to meet their daily family needs, including paying school fees for their children, buying food stuffs, paying hospital fees and others. The findings show that land tenure changes have affected the community livelihoods both positively and negatively. The negative impacts of land tenure changes have been the shortage of land for farming among local households which has largely influenced changes in agricultural output leading to food shortages/insecurity in the area. Also there has been some misunderstanding between the villagers and village leaders especially when there is unlawful selling of community land/village land. Positive impacts are like financial accumulation after the selling of land which assists the family to solve most of the problems including the problem of food insecurity. In order to cope with the problems of land tenure changes and food insecurity in this area, this study recommends that, there should be the enforcement on socio economic development strategies, the provision of traditional title deeds, enforcement of the law governing land issues, establishment of clear communication between village leaders and villagers, provision of education on land matters to villagers, discouragement of food selling and promotion of proper farming systems to local famers.