Addis Ababa, October 29, 2024 (FBC) – The Responsible and Innovative Land Administration (REILA), funded by the Finnish government, has achieved a remarkable milestone by registering 30 million land parcels across Ethiopia and empowering farmers to secure their rural land rights.
Through this collaboration between the governments of Ethiopia and Finland, the initiative has transformed the land administration of the East African Nation over the past decade, it was learned.
At the recent closing event of REILA Project II and the launch of Project III, Tigistu Gebire-Meskel, Lead Executive Officer of the Rural Land Administration and Use Directorate at the Ministry of Agriculture said Ethiopia has made significant reforms on land management and certification practices since 2011.
According to the executive officer, for many years, unclear land rights rustled in disputes and conflicts among farmers which prevented them from cultivating their land with confidence.
To this effect, the REILA project has played a crucial role in addressing long-standing issues of land tenure insecurity, which have historically hindered farmers from asserting ownership and investing in sustainable manner, he underscored.
Following the government’s urgent need for a modern land administration system and with the efforts of the REILA project, Tigistu indicated that Ethiopia has now certified millions of farmers to their land rights.
These farmers can now enjoy enhanced tenure security, which encourages them to invest in their land and adopt sustainable agricultural practices, he stated.
Speaking on the National Rural Land Administration Information System (NRLAIS), an IT system adopted by REILA, the system has brought about remarkable progress in securing rural land rights as it has been a robust platform for efficient data management and informed decision-making by digitizing and standardizing land records, Tigistu indicated.
“The technical support provided by the REILA project has been instrumental in the progress made in the rural land sector. The project has worked closely with the ministry in the regions with providing essential, technical and pragmatic assistance.”
NRLAIS has been operational in 450 woredas of the country with essential technical support from REILA and it has certified some 30 million land parcels across the country.
Tomi Sarkioja, Head of Cooperation at the Finland Embassy emphasized the importance of agriculture in Ethiopia, noting that secure land rights enable farmers, both men and women, to invest in their futures.
“Land registration has enhanced the tenure security of the rural population. Farmers are now encouraged to invest in their land. They can use the land use certificates for multiple purposes including as collateral to access loans that can be invested to increase household income, improve land productivity, and reduce environmental degradation.”
The REILA project has made substantial strides in ensuring equal land registration rights, with many parcels co-titled between spouses, promoting gender equality in land ownership, he added.
Moreover, REILA has not only focused on land rights but also on building the technical capacity of land administration professionals through formal training programs, he revealed.
“REILA has supported the technical capacity building of the land sector professionals. Establishing formal study and training programs including the land administration, TVET programs, is a significant achievement and fundamental in human capacity development for land administration.”
The success of the REILA program illustrates the power of international cooperation and the dedication of Ethiopian stakeholders at both federal and regional levels, Sarkioja stated.
The head further emphasized that as the project moves into its next phase, it continues to align with sustainable development goals, fostering improved land management and empowering farmers to invest in their land for a brighter and more secure future.
He underscored that this groundbreaking initiative serves as a testament to the positive impact of collaborative efforts in enhancing rural land rights and transforming the lives of millions of Ethiopian farmers, as called by ENA.