Land Tenure Policy and Agricultural Development in Benue State

This study examines the relationship between land tenure policy and agricultural development in Benue State, assessing whether existing land governance arrangements support or hinder smallholder farming productivity. Benue State is often referred to as the food basket of Nigeria due to its agricultural potential, yet land conflicts, tenure insecurity, and the displacement of farming communities by herder incursions have significantly constrained agricultural production. Using a qualitative research design, the study draws on focus group discussions with smallholder farmers, interviews with land tenure officials, and documentary analysis of land registration records in three agricultural zones of Benue State. The political economy of land and agrarian political economy framework are applied to examine how state land policy intersects with customary tenure systems and market forces. Findings indicate that the Land Use Act of 1978 continues to create tenure insecurity for smallholder farmers by vesting land ownership in state governors, thereby limiting farmers' incentives to invest in land improvement and exposing them to arbitrary revocation. The study further documents how farmer-herder conflicts have rendered large tracts of agricultural land inaccessible, exacerbating food insecurity in the North Central geopolitical zone. Recommendations include a comprehensive review of the Land Use Act to strengthen smallholder tenure security, establishment of land dispute tribunals at the local government level, and implementation of regulated grazing corridors to reduce farmer-herder competition. Keywords: land tenure, agricultural development, Benue State, Land Use Act, smallholder farming