Land grabbing, gender and access to land: implications for local food production and rural livelihoods in Nguti sub-division, South West Cameroon

This article examines the disproportionate gendered impacts of land grabbing amongst affected communities in Nguti subdivision of the South West Region of Cameroon. I argue that, first, pre-existing land tenure systems and a shift to a capitalist agrarian production structure has led to unequal access to land between men and women. Second, I show that the loss of land to commercial interests has constrained women's abilities to access land either for crop production and/or to harvest non-timber forest products (NTFPs), creating significant livelihood stress for them and their communities. I conclude by advocating that the state should formally recognise customary tenure, and mainstream gender within its institutions (customary and statutory) governing land and forest resources. Women need to be empowered through education and capacity-building programs to enable them to exercise their rights to access land, and benefit from resources.