Plowing Ahead: The Effects of Agricultural Mechanization on Land Tenure in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Tensions are emerging in Burkina Faso between mechanized agriculture and traditional land tenure policies. Although the influx of tractors came late to the country, their increasing presence has led to agricultural land expansions that encroach on plots granted to small farmers through traditional processes. This paper explores these tensions in four main sections. The first section traces the changing land tenure policies in Burkina that have resulted in a delicate balance between official laws and customary practices. The second considers the rise of agricultural mechanization and the growing significance of tractors. The third examines the various tensions, exacerbated by rising populations, which arise as mechanization encroaches on traditionally held lands. These tensions lead to the exploitation of labor, persistent land grabs, and the forcing of small farmers into a void in which few market alternatives exist. To help mitigate these tensions, the final section recommends the tempering of large tractor expansion and the gradual adjustment of land tenure policies toward increased privatization. By harmonizing land tenure policies and agricultural mechanization, the conditions will exist for more prudent development in Burkina Faso.