Large-scale commercial agriculture in Africa: Lessons from the past
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Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape
Abstract
African agriculture is in a phase of rapid commercialisation. Planners and investors in sub-Saharan Africa urgently need to consider how the choice of business model, the local context and the political environment affect outcomes of commercial ventures. A review of past experiences with three commercial farming models reveals the conditions that have provided the most stable environment for investors but also protected the most vulnerable in society and created the best chance for technology transfer and local economic linkages. These lessons from history have contemporary relevance.
Description
Keywords
Sub-Saharan Africa, African agriculture, Commercial agriculture, Plantations, Contract farming
Citation
Smalley, R. (2014). Large-scale commercial agriculture in Africa: Lessons from the past. Policy Brief 65, Bellville: Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape