Determinants of access to customary land rights on youth participation in commercial agriculture : a case of Amolatar District, Northern Uganda

Abstract

Youth unemployment in Uganda remains high despite agriculture being the country’s largest employer. Limited access to land, particularly under customary tenure systems, constrains youth participation in commercial agriculture. This study examined the determinants of access to customary land rights on youth participation in commercial agriculture in Amolatar District, Northern Uganda. A multistage sampling design was used to select 304 youth composed of 152 with and 152 without land use rights. Quantitative data on youth characteristics and enterprise production were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and a binary logistic regression model. Findings revealed significant differences between youth with land rights and those without in terms of marital status, group membership, education, use of improved agronomic practices, access to credit, and extension services. Youth with land rights mainly accessed land through inheritance, purchase, renting, and bequeathing, while those without relied heavily on sharecropping. Access to land rights was positively influenced by factors such as marital status, parental education, household size, and group membership. Importantly, youth with land rights achieved higher productivity and income levels compared to their counterparts. The study concludes that secure land access is a key driver of youth participation in commercial agriculture. It recommends promoting land acquisition options that strengthen user rights, encouraging youth participation in farmer groups, raising awareness about customary land access opportunities, and expanding extension services to improve adoption of modern agricultural practices.