Land acquisition for agribusiness development in South Comoé region, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Agribusiness which contributes significantly to most economies in Africa is under threat from socio-economic and political factors which affect their productivity. This study set out to investigate the factors influencing the growth of agribusiness (agri-value chain) in sub-Saharan African countries (SSA) using South Comoé region of Côte d'Ivoire as a case study. The research is built on the argument that there is a lack of viable policy frameworks to guide effective negotiations for land acquisition and benefits sharing in the process of establishing agribusiness. The research aim was achieved through an empirical study based on focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informants’ interviews. The data were thematically analysed and discussed through the perspectives of rural community members, agribusiness investors and local government authorities (key participants identified) of the districts of Bonoua, Adiaké and Aboisso, South Comoé region. The results of this study revealed how legal pluralism (customary and modern tenure systems) posed a challenge for land acquisition negotiation for agribusiness development. The lack of integration of customary laws in the colonial and post-colonial eras created inequality in the land acquisition process. Inequalities in the negotiation of land for the establishment and grow of agribusiness has resulted to conflicts experienced in a number of countries in SSA. In addition, this study shows that the benefit sharing mechanism practiced in South Comoé, Côte d’Ivoire is inconsistent with universal standards such as that defined by the Nagoya Protocol designed to ensure fair benefit distribution in biodiversity conservation. As such the rural communities suffer marginalisation in the negotiation of benefits for the sacrifice of communal land for the establishment of Agribusiness Corporation. Moreover, the inequalities and marginalisation of grassroots communities during the negotiation of land and benefits sharing was found in this study to stem from the lack of viable land reform policy to secure the tenure rights of such rural community members. The results of the study therefore suggest a dire need for the government of Côte d’Ivoire to design effective land reform policy which takes into consideration rural community rights for the establishment of agribusiness. The land reform policy should ensure adequate negotiation of communal land and benefits thus creating an enabling environment for the growth of agribusiness. The study thus contributes to knowledge on the key role of land reform policy in ensuring the growth of agribusiness in sub-Saharan Africa.