Books and Book Chapters

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Browsing by Subject "Agriculture"

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    Africa's land rush: rural livelihoods and agrarian change
    (James Currey, 2015) Hall, Ruth; Scoones, Ian; Tsikata, Dzodzi
    This book is 'the most historically grounded, lucid and nuanced understanding to date of the complex political economy of the contemporary rush for land in Africa' according to Professor Adebayo Olukoshi, Director of of the United Nations Institute for Development. Africa's Land Rush explores the processes through which land deals are being made; the implications for agrian structure, rural livelihoods and food security; and the historical context for changing land uses. The case studies reveal that these land grabs may resonate with, even resurrect, forms of production associated with the colonial and early independence eras. Based on interviews with the investors, goverment, authorities, workers, outgrowers and smallholder farmers in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and the Congo, the book depicts the striking diversity of such deals.
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    Joint ventures in agriculture: Lessons from land reform projects in South Africa
    (Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape, 2012) Lahiff, Edward; Davis, Nerhene; Manenzhe, Tshililo
    Recent years have witnessed renewed interest in ‘inclusive business models’ in agriculture, as part of wider discussions about growing agricultural investment in lower income countries. Inclusive models aim to include poor people into value chains as producers, employees or consumers, in ways that are both equitable and sustainable. Joint ventures between companies and local communities have received considerable attention in these debates. This report presents findings from research on joint ventures in South Africa’s agricultural sector. The South African experience presents major specificities linked to its history and its recent land reform programme, within which experience with joint ventures has emerged. But it also provides a case where joint ventures have been implemented for some time, and some of the lessons learned may prove valuable for different contexts where discussions about joint ventures are more recent. Under South Africa’s land reform programme, since 1994, previously dispossessed communities have had large areas of agricultural land restored to them and, under pressure from the state, have entered into a range of joint enterprises with commercial partners. Early evidence suggests that these enterprises face multiple difficulties, and the report provides a cautionary tale for international discussions about inclusive business models. This report is based on two case studies of land reform in Limpopo province, Levubu and Moletele. In these sites, large areas of high-value irrigated land have been restored to relatively poor communities. In order to maintain the productivity of commercial farming enterprises, and to maximise long-term benefits for their members, these communities have entered into contractual arrangements with socalled ‘strategic partners’, most of which take the form of joint ventures. While the state funds the land transfer and provides certain start-up grants, the strategic partner is expected to provide technical and managerial expertise and arrange access to commercial sources of credit. In return, the strategic partners expect to benefit from a share of profits, a management fee and opportunities for additional upstream and downstream activities. Communities stand to benefit from land rentals and a share of operating profits, as well as jobs and training opportunities for their members
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    Large-scale land deals in Southern Africa: voices of the people
    (Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape, 2015) Hall, Ruth; Gausi, Joseph; Matondi, Prosper; Muduva, Theodor; Nhancale, Camilo; Phiri, Dimuna; Zamchiya, Phillan
    This book presents case studies of large-scale land deals in Southern Africa. It aims to provide an accessible and vivid window into the lived realities and responses of rural people who are affected by such deals. For this reason, it pays particular attention to what local people say, and has quoted their experiences and responses to the land deals. The book emerges from an action research project implemented by the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, in partnership with non-governmental organisations in five Southern African countries: LandNet in Malawi, Kuwuka Juventude Desenvolvimento e Advocacia Ambiental in Mozambique, Legal Assistance Centre in Namibia, Zambia Land Alliance in Zambia and Ruzivo Trust in Zimbabwe. The joint project, entitled Commercialisation of Land and ‘Land Grabbing’ in Southern Africa: Implications for Land Rights and Livelihoods in Southern Africa, involved not only documenting what was happening on the ground but also action research, together with the communities, in negotiations, lobbying and meetings with investors and with government institutions.