Land reform has been a critical component of socio-economic transformation in Mozambique since independence from Portugal in . The process aimed at redistributing land to former peasants who had lost their holdings during colonial times, yet it has faced various challenges and controversies. The research employs qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. Data collection took place across different regions in Mozambique, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the land reform's socio-economic impacts. Interviews revealed that while some farmers benefited from increased access to arable land, others faced challenges such as limited agricultural inputs and market access, leading to varying degrees of success. A significant proportion (60%) reported improvements in food security but also noted reduced income compared to pre-reform levels. The findings suggest that while land reform has contributed to a reduction in rural poverty by improving food security, it has not uniformly benefited all sectors of the population and may have exacerbated economic disparities. Policy recommendations include strengthening support services for small-scale farmers, enhancing access to credit and inputs, and promoting market linkages to improve income generation. Additionally, ongoing efforts should focus on mitigating environmental impacts and ensuring equitable distribution of benefits. Land Reform, Socio-Economic Transformation, Mozambique, East Africa, Qualitative Study
Nhamoza et al. (Thu,) studied this question.