Land rights defenders from 29 countries call for greater vigilance in ensuring governments comply with laws

MUMBAI, Sept 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Dozens of land rights defenders from 29 countries have written to the United Nations to draw attention to the increasing violence they face from states and corporations, and calling for greater vigilance in ensuring governments comply with laws.

Land Portal Foundation and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) launch thematic portfolio on Land & Food Security

Approximately 40 percent of the world’s land is used for crop production and pasture, but 800 million people remain food insecure and as many as 2 billion are malnourished. In the coming years, ensuring the world’s poor and vulnerable have access to and control over land will be critical to prevent devastating food shortages and starvation.

As a 53-year civil war winds down, coca growers face growing pressure to shelve their lucrative crop.

Mauricio Quiróz has always had a plan.

The 38-year-old farmer and entrepreneur lives with his wife and three kids on a small ranch on the lush, steep mountainside that surrounds the municipality of Briceño, in the department of Antioquia in northwestern Colombia.

Former President John Dramani Mahama has encouraged women in Africa to fully take up agriculture as a means to enrich themselves, their families and achieve sustainable development for their countries.

Mr Mahama noted that women’s participation in agriculture is more critical as women in agricultural production in Africa are between 40 and 60 per cent.

Dashboard tracks land and the Sustainable Developing Goals (SDGs)

The project is part of a cross country pilot being implemented by the LPI with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the European Union (EU)

If we are to address poverty in rural South Africa, we must prioritise good governance practices among communal property institutions in order to ensure that beneficiaries of the land reform programme begin to drive job creation and play their part towards poverty alleviation.

The eradication of hunger and poverty and the sustainable use of the environment depend in large measure on how people, communities and others gain access to land, fisheries and forests.

Whilst rural areas are dynamic and vibrant communities, they are chronically under-invested in. Poverty rates tend to be at least double than that of urban centres. Subsistence farming and small-scale farming is key to achieving sustainable development and a key source of livelihood for most of rural communities in South Africa. By MTHANDAZO NDLOVU

Current Status of the Land Resources

Since the dawn of civilisation land and water have been the basic elements of life support system in our planet. Great civilisations flourished where these resources was available in plenty and they declined or perished with their depletion.

AS the world’s population surges towards nine billion by midcentury, food production has failed to keep pace, creating rising food shortages and a global food crisis ahead, according to the United Nations. To avoid mass starvation, the world needs to produce 70% more food by 2050.

Monrovia – Multi Stakeholders’ Platforms (MSPs) in Project Affected Communities in Sinoe, Maryland, Nimba and Grand Cape Mount Counties have benefitted from series of trainings on Land Use and Land Verification.

The exercises are in continuation of the implementation of activities under the Assessed Funding Project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and in partnership with the Government of Liberia through the National Bureau of Concession (NBC).