Visions of sustainable development and the future of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (and beyond)

Smallholder farmers are widely touted as essential to sustainable agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. But what exactly is meant by sustainable development, and how are smallholder farmers expected to contribute to it? In this perspective, we describe and assess two competing v...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Frontiers in sustainable food systems Vol. 8
Main Authors:	Boda, Chad S., Akorsu, Angela Dziedzom, Armah, Frederick Ato, Atwiine, Adrine, Byaruhanga, Ronald, Chambati, Walter, Ekumah, Bernard, Faran, Turaj, Hombey, Charles Tetteh, Isgren, Ellinor, Jerneck, Anne, Mazwi, Freedom, Mpofu, Elizabeth, Ndhlovu, Delmah, Ocen, Laury, Sibanda, Michaelin
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Frontiers Media S.A 05-11-2024
Subjects:	Annan samhällsvetenskap capabilities approach capital theory collective action collective action & social movements development theory Other Social Sciences rural development Samhällsvetenskap social movements Social Sciences Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Tvärvetenskapliga studier Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap
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Summary:	Smallholder farmers are widely touted as essential to sustainable agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. But what exactly is meant by sustainable development, and how are smallholder farmers expected to contribute to it? In this perspective, we describe and assess two competing visions of sustainable development, namely Capital Theory and the Capabilities approach, paying special attention to the major yet divergent repercussions each approach implies for the future of smallholder farmers and the activities of their representative organizations. We present the core concepts, tools and practices stemming from each sustainable development perspective, and from a critique of these motivate the superiority of a capabilities approach as more conducive to smallholder farmers wellbeing now and in the future. In doing so, we bring to the fore the pivotal role smallholder farmer organizations and rural social movements, as collective vehicles for smallholder political agency, play in strategically advocating for the conditions that support sustainable and just smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.
ISSN:	2571-581X 2571-581X
DOI:	10.3389/fsufs.2024.1357574