By Jones Gadama
The Greenbelt Authority (GBA) has called on landowners in Group Village Heads Katolora and Mwangolera under Paramount Chief Kyungu in Karonga to register their land within the Nthola Illola Irrigation Scheme.
The move aims to mitigate potential land-related conflicts and ensure that each farmer or community member has a certificate for their parcel of land.
GBA’s Land Administration Manager, Oscar Matope, emphasized the importance of registering land parcels during a training for Data Collectors and Data Processors for Customary Land Registration at the Nthola Illola Irrigation Scheme.
“The scheme is being developed on land that belongs to the community,” Matope said, adding that,”We are supposed to make sure that their land parcels are well registered, demarcated, and surveyed to ensure that each farmer or community member has a certificate for his or her parcel of land.”
The Nthola Illola Irrigation Scheme is a significant development project that will benefit local farmers and communities.
However, the project requires careful land administration to avoid conflicts and ensure that landowners’ rights are protected.
By registering land parcels, landowners will have formal proof of ownership, which will help to prevent disputes and ensure that they benefit from the scheme.
Group Village Head Mwangolera welcomed the exercise, saying he will make sure that people in his area are aware that their land is not being grabbed but rather they are securing its ownership.
“We are happy that the Greenbelt Authority is taking steps to formalize land ownership in our area,” he said. “We will work closely with the authorities to ensure that the process is smooth and transparent,” he added.
The training for Data Collectors and Data Processors is a crucial step in the land registration process.
The trainees will be responsible for collecting and processing data on land parcels, which will be used to issue certificates of ownership.
GBA’s efforts to register land parcels in the Nthola Illola Irrigation Scheme are part of a broader initiative to promote land security and reduce conflicts in rural areas.
Land registration is essential for securing land rights and promoting investment in agriculture.
By formalizing land ownership, landowners can use their land as collateral to access credit and other financial services.
This can help to improve agricultural productivity and reduce poverty in rural areas.
The Greenbelt Authority’s call for landowners to register their land in Karonga is a welcome move that will help to promote land security and reduce conflicts. By working together with local communities and authorities, GBA can ensure that the land registration process is smooth and transparent.
The Nthola Illola Irrigation Scheme has the potential to transform the lives of local farmers and communities, and land registration is a critical step in realizing this potential.
