As land is a prime factor of production for the agricultural country like Nepal, access to it has been
the major source for the livelihoods of small and medium farmers. But access to land is governed by
the tenure arrangements which in turn affect the production and productivity of the farm. Gaining
access through renting in of land has had various implications with some studies indicating a positive
outcome while others indicating a negative outcome. In Nepal, renting in of land in the form
sharecropping is widely practiced in Mid Western Region, but there is a gap in the academic study as
to whether this benefits the farmers and makes them food sufficient. In this context, this study
attempts to find out the implications of land tenure concerning agricultural households on food
sufficiency. The sampled area of study was one ward each from two VDCs, one from the tarai, where
sharecropping is practiced, and the other from the hills, where there is prevalence of owner
cultivation, of Dang District. The research was designed basically following a qualitative approach in
which proportionate samples from each representative area were interviewed using schedules
constituting a total sample size of 50. Basic tools used for collection of data were household
questionnaire, participant observation method, transact walk, and focused group discussion. The
major findings of the study were that even though secure land tenure affects the household food
sufficiency in a number of ways, unless the secured land is productive enough or sufficient
environment to make it productive is created, land tenure issue alone would address the issue of food
security to a much lesser degree. Family size, land size, type of land and type of tenure were the major
factors governing land tenure such that these were found to have a tremendous impact in household
food sufficiency. Bigger family size with less economically active population working in big rented in
land without irrigation would not result in better yield. For increased productivity and production, all
of the major factors governing land tenure system must be balanced such that this study concluded
that bigger family size alone does not lead to food sufficiency nor does bigger land size alone. In
addition, type of tenancy and type of land also does determine the household food sufficiency in a
more generic way. The findings from this research led to the calculation of per capita requirement of
land which would ultimately lead to food sufficiency. Finally, it is recommended that for
effectiveness of land reform, which is the ultimate step for development for a country like Nepal,
these four major factors be considered and issues and challenges facing it be addressed before
deciding to distribute land or doing any policy changes. Tenurial security of rented in land as well as
increasing productivity and production of the used land must also be focused.