INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE TO PROMOTE LAND RENTAL MARKETS IN THE DEVELOPING REGIONS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA / INSTITUSIONELE VERANDERING OM GRONDHUURMARKTE IN DIE ONTWIKKELENDE STREKE VAN SUIDELIKE AFRIKA TE BEVORDER

Abstract

Rental markets for agricultural land in communal areas of Southern Africa are often constrained, despite potential benefits for many households. High transaction costs and insecure tenure have precluded active rental markets in the region. The notion that conditions necessary for land rental will emerge in response to increasing population pressure and better prospects in farming is questioned. Attention is focused on interest groups opposed to changes in customary tenure, and policies designed to 'supply the institutional changes needed to support an active rental market. The main conclusion is that fanner support programmes are unlikely to realise their full potential unless they are accompanied by adaptive strategies that make endogenous changes in customary tenure more predictable.

Die huurmark vir landbougrond in kommunale gebiede van Suidelike-Afrika word dikwels verhinder ondanh die potensiële voordele wat dit vir baie huishoudings inhou. Hoë transaksiekoste en onseker eiendomsregte verhinder dat 'n aktiewe huurmark in die streek gevestig kan word. Die siening dat die behoefte van grondhuurtransaksies self sal ontstaan as gevolg van bevolkingstal en beter landbou vooruitsigte, kan egter bevraagteken word. Aandag word gevestig op belangegroepe wat die veranderings in die eiendomsreg teenstaan en tweedens word aandag geskenk am beleid wat die nodige institusionele veranderings vir 'n aktiewe huurmark sal meebring. Die hoof gevoltrekking is dat boerdey ondersteuningsprogramme nie hul volle potensiaal sal realiseernie behalwe as dit nie gepaardgaan met aanpasbare strategieë wat endogene verandering in tradisionele grondbesitstelsel meer voorspelbaar maak.