Land Governance as the Foundation of Modern Agriculture
🧩 Nenad Gvozdenović on Using Land Consolidation to Strengthen Rural Resilience
Effective land governance is essential for modern agriculture and rural development. It enables farmers and communities to use land efficiently, reduce production costs, and plan shared spaces such as schools, settlements, or water systems. Within the Sector Network Rural Development (SNRD Africa), the Workstream Land Governance focuses on exchanging practical approaches that support these goals.
In this short statement, Nenad Gvozdenović explains how land consolidation addresses one of the most common challenges in rural areas: fragmented plots. By reorganising land so that parcels are larger, better shaped, and have access to field roads, farmers can increase productivity and use mechanisation and irrigation more effectively.
Nenad highlights an example from Ethiopia, where a farmer reduced his travel distance between fields from 150 to 15 kilometres after consolidating 35 scattered plots into six. This significantly lowered his costs and allowed him to work more efficiently. Communities also benefit: land consolidation can create space for essential services such as schools or water infrastructure.
Land governance links agriculture, climate adaptation, and rural resilience. Strengthening these systems helps rural areas plan better, invest sustainably, and respond to growing pressures on land.
🎙️ Recorded at the SNRD Africa Conference 2025 (French and Amharic subtitles available)
✅ To see more testimonial videos from the conference, go to the SNRD Africa Youtube channel – it includes also a playlist from the working group.
