The difference in kind between the pre-colonial and the postcolonial relations of production can he noticed through the gradual dissolution of relations based on a personal tieless gift-giving based on the market economy. The liberation of the labor forces this engendered and of channeled into a new system of constraint, led to the beginning of a private appropriation of land.

Africa’s development remains dependent on agriculture and exploitation of natural resources, yet agriculture and livestock production are largely carried out by smallholder farmers under increasing pressure of scarce land resources managed under unsecured customary land ownership. African governments are seeking to address tenure insecurities to promote sustainable rural and urban development, and to address inequalities in land ownership between different social groups.

The system of registration "based on the above principles has the following characteristics: Each accurately delimited property is inscribed in a land register under a. name and number and with topographical and legal data which show clearly and accurately the right of its owner. The real right of charges^ transfers of ownership and changes concerning a property are indicated in the land registers which constitute in short, the complete and detailed record of each registered property.

"The word cadastre is the technical term signifying the surveying of parcels of land, establishing their area, value and ownership (or any other title of occupancy)". This definition seems to deal only with the topographical aspect of the system, in other words, the demarcation of a group of parcels, with their area, their boundaries and the name of the owner. In Madagascar, in addition to this demarcation, the owner must establish his title by an official instrument.

This paper focuses on the severity of the African food situation was demanding programmes and plans of action such as the Lagos Plan of Action (1980) and the FAO African Food Plan (1980), the twin problems of post harvest food losses and of arable land lost to urban development in Africa were considered for joint action.