Explaining agricultural decline – a case study of castor seeds in Dodoma region, Tanzania

Abstract

Lomøy, J. 1986. Explaining agricultural decline – a case study of castor seeds in Dodoma region, Tanzania. Norsk geogr. Tidsskr. Vol. 40, 15–26. Oslo. ISSN 0029–1951. Most African countries are experiencing stagnating or declining agricultural production per capita. Using the dramatic decline in castor seeds production in Dodoma region, Tanzania, as a case, the article discusses different ways of explaining declining production. The influence of economic, ecological, and political factors is discussed. The explanations are also related to different conceptualizations of the peasant economy, and the types of incentives to which the peasants respond. The relevance of the different images of the peasant to the explanation of agricultural problems is discussed. Finally, the role of development geography in peasant studies is commented on, and a framework for geographical studies of the peasants' everyday life is briefly outlined.