Impact of Formal Land Ownership on Household Farm Productivity and Agriculture as a Primary Occupation of Youth in Ghana

This study examines the effect of formal land ownership (tenure security) on household agricultural productivity and agricultural occupation of rural youth. Using data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey 7 (GLSS 7), the results of the study reveal that formal land ownership for the household does not significantly increase productivity. However, the effect is only significant for beans (the most cultivated legume in Ghana) with an increase of almost 21%. Additionally, formal land ownership by the household increases the likelihood of rural youth engaging in agriculture as the main occupation. The effect of this increase is significant, and rural youth in households with formal land ownership are almost two times as likely to engage in agriculture as the main occupation.