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The Rising Class of Emergent Farmers: An Effective Model for Achieving Agricultural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Africa?

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  • Sitko, Nicholas J.
  • Jayne, Thomas S.

Abstract

The relative importance of small versus large farm enterprises in driving agricultural production growth and poverty reduction is a central development debate in Africa. More broadly this debate revolves around questions of farm land intensification versus extensification as the most effective means for addressing the persistent issues of food insecurity and hunger in Africa. On the one hand, there is a well‐established literature that argues that the intensification of smallholder production is the most effective way of initiating sweeping beneficial changes in predominantly agrarian societies. One the other hand, there is a growing belief that massive constraints in African smallholder production and marketing systems make it improbable for very small farms to be engines of agricultural‐led capital accumulation, land consolation, farm expansion, and significant production gains. For them a strategy that seeks to stimulate large‐scale agriculture can more effective address the constraints to African food production.

Suggested Citation

  • Sitko, Nicholas J. & Jayne, Thomas S., 2012. "The Rising Class of Emergent Farmers: An Effective Model for Achieving Agricultural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Africa?," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 140907, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:midcwp:140907
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.140907
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Nkonde, Chewe & Mason, Nicole M. & Sitko, Nicholas J. & Jayne, Thomas S., 2011. "Who Gained and Who Lost from Zambia's 2010 Maize Marketing Policies?," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 99610, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    4. Chapoto, Antony & Jayne, Thomas S. & Mason, Nicole M., 2006. "Security of Widows’ Access to Land in the Era of HIV/AIDS: Panel Survey Evidence from Zambia," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 54478, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    5. Binswanger, Hans P. & Deininger, Klaus & Feder, Gershon, 1995. "Power, distortions, revolt and reform in agricultural land relations," Handbook of Development Economics, in: Hollis Chenery & T.N. Srinivasan (ed.), Handbook of Development Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 42, pages 2659-2772, Elsevier.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lovemore C. Gwiriri & James Bennett & Cletos Mapiye & Sara Burbi, 2021. "Emerging from Below? Understanding the Livelihood Trajectories of Smallholder Livestock Farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-24, February.
    2. Omulo, Godfrey & Daum, Thomas & Köller, Karlheinz & Birner, Regina, 2024. "Unpacking the behavioral intentions of ‘emergent farmers’ towards mechanized conservation agriculture in Zambia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    3. Ndhlovu, Masauso & Kiggundu, Nicholas & Wanyama, Joshua & Banadda, Noble, 2017. "Effects of Incorporating Biochar into the Soil Using Power Tiller and Ox-Plough," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 6(4), November.
    4. Chamberlin, Jordan & Sitko, Nicholas & Hichaambwa, Munguzwe, 2015. "Gendered-impacts of smallholder land tilting: a plot-level analysis in rural Zambia," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211451, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Chapoto, A. & Houssou, N. & Asante-Addo, C. & Mabiso, A., 2018. "Can smallholder farmers grow? Perspectives from the rise of indigenous small-scale farmers in Ghana," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277225, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Ahlerup, Pelle & Tengstam, Sven, 2015. "Do the land-poor gain from agricultural investments? Empirical evidence from Zambia using panel data," Working Papers in Economics 624, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    7. Chapoto, Antony & Mabiso, Athur & Bonsu, Adwinmea, 2013. "Agricultural commercialization, land expansion, and homegrown land-scale farmers: Insights from Ghana:," IFPRI discussion papers 1286, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Houssou, Nazaire & Chapoto, Anthony & Asante-Addo, Collins, 2016. "Farm transition and indigenous growth: The rise to medium- and large-scale farming in Ghana:," IFPRI discussion papers 1499, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Jayne, T.S. & Chamberlin, Jordan & Headey, Derek D., 2014. "Land pressures, the evolution of farming systems, and development strategies in Africa: A synthesis," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-17.

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    Food Security and Poverty;

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