ABSTRACT

The development of responsible land management requires a proper understanding of how interpersonal relations affect land use choices. This chapter uses the concept of human recognition to reflect these interpersonal relations. We examine the influence of human recognition on land use behavior and participation in community discourse in communities in Malawi.

In Malawi, women farmers face constraints in land use management and community participation, in the short- and long-term because of lack of human recognition. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we analyze a cross-section of households with 619 women farmers in communities within five districts in central and southern Malawi. Results indicate that women farmers with better self/household human recognition and in communities with better institutional recognition adopt improved land use behaviour and have better participation in community discourse.

Our results imply that intangible concepts like human recognition have significant influence on land management outcomes. To increase adoption of improved land use behavior and make land management more responsible in these communities, reforms should reconcile the gap between land owners and land managers. Policies should tackle obstacles facing women participating in community decisions. Finally, better women recognition in the community requires improving community agent’s perception of women farmers as value-adders.