A major risk for many small farmers is the insecurity of their tenure ar-rangements. Although most farmers have legitimized rights often based on customary or religious tenure systems, these are frequently not rec-ognized by the state that considers these lands to be state land. In view of the currently increasing commercial pressure on land, tenure security becomes an even more crucial condition for achieving food security. In this respect, small farmers’ secured access to land – especially for women (who are the main food producers in most developing countries, produc-ing 90% of the food in Sub Saharan African countries) – is crucial to ensure food security.