Land Reform in Guinea-Bissau: A Mixed-Methods Examination of Socio-Economic Impacts and Challenges

Land reform in Guinea-Bissau has been a contentious issue since its independence from Portugal. The country's agrarian sector remains highly dependent on smallholder farming, with significant disparities between land ownership and productivity. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining semi-structured interviews with a survey questionnaire to gather data on farmer perceptions and statistical outcomes related to land ownership, productivity, and income distribution. The findings indicate that while some smallholder farmers have benefited from increased access to arable land, there is a notable trend of declining agricultural yields in regions where reforms were implemented. Despite initial optimism, the mixed-methods study reveals persistent challenges in translating land reform into tangible socio-economic improvements for Guinea-Bissau's rural communities. Policy recommendations include targeted support programmes for smallholder farmers and enhanced collaboration between government agencies to monitor and address emerging issues post-reform implementation.