Political Economy Of Agriculture Research Articles

Political Economy of Agriculture and Food Policy in Africa

This article reviews the literature on the political economy of agricultural and food policy in sub-Saharan Africa. In doing so, it first presents a conceptual framework highlighting that agricultural and food policy decisions are contingent on the intersection between governance structures, the preferences and pressures from societal interest groups, and international dynamics. The interrelations among these three factors are then examined across several different sets of policy instruments that have been the focus of traditional political economy research in the region: trade, tax, and marketing policies; public investments and regulations; input and food subsidies; and cross-cutting policies for value chain development. Recognizing several broader demographic, technology, and governance transitions in the region, the article also highlights key areas for future analysis that examine the role of cities in food policy, the possibilities presented by expanded mobile phone and Internet access, and the efficacy of new public administration modalities for policy implementation.

Migrant farmworkers: Resisting and organising before, during and after COVID‐19

AbstractMigrant farmworkers are a ubiquitous but invisibilised, expropriated and exploited component of the global agricultural economy. Their conditions took centre‐stage during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Fear of production disruption in the migrant labour‐intensive sectors led to foreign workers being deemed ‘essential’ in many countries, and exceptional procedures and regulations were instituted that further increased their exploitation, illnesses and deaths. However, the pandemic has not merely exposed the long‐established structures of racialised exploitation and expropriation in the domain of farm work. Although it exacerbated the precariousness of the living and working conditions defining the reality of migrant farm workers, there is evidence that the pandemic also strengthened farmworkers' individual and collective consciousness, along with forms of organisation and resistance. The symposium ‘Migrant Farmworkers: Resisting and Organizing before, during and after COVID‐19’ explores two dimensions reflected in migrant farmworkers' realities during the pandemic. First, the contributions look at the general conditions defining power structures and material outcomes within the political economy of agriculture before and during the pandemic. Second, they explore the conditions under which resistance and solidarity emerged to question established structures of exploitation.

Legacies of Dust: Land Use and Labor on the Colorado Plains

Legacies of Dust: Land Use and Labor on the Colorado Plains

Tanzania Towards Industrialization; Kilimo Kwanza Policy Towards Economic Growth and Self-Sustaining

Since independence, agriculture has been the backbone of Tanzania's economy. Factors like good climatical condition, arable land, and manpower give the advantage to do well in agriculture as a tool for economic growth and self-sustaining. Despite having a good agriculture policy (Kilimo Kwanza), the country is not doing well in utilizing its full potential in the agriculture sector. This is due to several challenges like the political economy of agriculture, budget bias (constraints) against agriculture, and market bias against agriculture. To solve those problems and make this policy and agriculture more sustainable in achieving economic growth, industrialization (Tanzania ya Viwanda), and self-sustaining, this study is recommending the government to make some adjustments in the policy to match with the annual budget trends to avoid deficits. Moreover, the government should provide education to increase perceptions to the decision-makers about the importance of agriculture in the economy to reduce the biases on agriculture in their decision-making processes.

Agrarian Vision, Industrial Vision, and Rent-Seeking: A Viewpoint

Many public debates about the societal significance and impact of agriculture are usefully framed by Paul Thompson’s distinction between the “agrarian” and the “industrial vision.” The key argument of the present paper is that the ongoing debate between these visions goes beyond academic philosophy and has direct effects on the political economy of agriculture by influencing the scope of rent-seeking activities that are undertaken primarily in the name of the agrarian vision. The existence of rent-seeking activities is shown to reflect the fact that the agrarian vision is not universally supported, which is certainly true of the industrial vision as well. The key argument of the present paper is that these two philosophical visions of agriculture are not radically incongruent. Rather, they share a common ground within which they are even mutually supportive. If agricultural policy making is oriented toward this common ground, it may reduce overall dissatisfaction with the resulting institutional regime of agricultural production. Such an agricultural policy may also stimulate the emergence of new business practices that not only enable efficient agricultural production but also minimize negative ecological impact and preserve cultural landscapes.

The Agrarian Seeds of Empire: The Political Economy of Agriculture in US State Building, by BradBauerly, Chicago: Haymarket Books, 2018. 324 pp. $28.00 (paper). ISBN: 9781608468430.

The Agrarian Seeds of Empire: The Political Economy of Agriculture in US State Building, by BradBauerly, Chicago: Haymarket Books, 2018. 324 pp. $28.00 (paper). ISBN: 9781608468430.

A Review of the Political Economy of Agriculture in Uganda: Women, Property Rights, and Other Challenges

In Uganda, agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, like in the rest of African countries. The current literature review explores agriculture situations in Uganda while focusing on the role of women, land ownership, and the current policy framework. The authors sought to illustrate some of the core challenges in agriculture and how their impact on agricultural output. The researchers explored various developments in Uganda, such as employment, the role of women, and challenges faced, especially in the aspect related to policy framework as compared to other developing countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, and South Africa. Agricultural production in Uganda is largely dominated by smallholders' farmers, especially those with less than five hectares. These farmers produce a wide range of crops for both consumption and commercial purpose. Challenges such as lack of or limited access to finance, limited access to land, and price fluctuation are discussed. The researchers revealed that there is limited use of agricultural technologies by the farmers.

Mobilization against “agricultural terrorism” and the political-economy of agriculture in Israel

Abstract This article addresses political mobilization of farmers and the political-economy of Jewish agriculture in Israel, which is caught in the tension between nationalism and post-nationalism, and between socialism and neoliberalism. In contrast with early Jewish farmers, who enjoyed the ideological backing of a robust national movement, and later intervention by a protectionist state, farmers now find themselves in a more fragile position. They gradually lost their prestige in the eyes of the mainstream (Zionist) public, and the neo-liberalizing state is withdrawing many types of its traditional support. The article focuses on the mobilization of Jewish farmers against such trends, and particularly, against the wave of crime they are experiencing, which they frame as “agricultural terrorism.” Two case-studies – The New Guardian movement and The Dromi Law – are surveyed in more depth. In both cases, the mobilization uses symbolic events to amass political influence, recruit supportive activists, allocate resources and reshape the law to enable civil society to act in “self-defense” against criminals. To analyze how the discourse of terrorism is used and the context that underlies it, I draw on theoretical frameworks developed by Foucault, Bourdieu, and Lefebvre. Topics discussed include how framings of terrorism and pioneering produce Israel's agricultural spaces and policies in the 21st century; how neoliberal logic is internalized by farmers who turn to civil society and self-help; and how they invoke national images in an attempt to regain the social prestige they have lost during the post-nationalist era.

Unifying Agricultural and Environmental Ethics

ABSTRACTPaul B. Thompson’s agrarian ethic aims to unite the core agricultural value of providing sustenance for people with the environmental value of preserving nature into the future. His recently revised and updated book, The Spirit of the Soil, constructs a conceptual framework for evaluating normative issues in food ethics, the political economy of agriculture, and agricultural policy, as well as in environmental policy insofar as it affects agriculture. He demonstrates that the essential move in agricultural and environmental ethics is to identify systemic causes of specific problems. This makes it possible to imagine reform at the level of systems—such as economic systems, agricultural systems, and ecosystems—in a way that addresses the root causes of related problems. Thompson’s work demonstrates how engaged philosophical practice can advance philosophical inquiry while at the same time having an impact on public policy.

Alessandro Bonanno and Lawrence Busch (eds): Handbook of the international political economy of agriculture and food

Alessandro Bonanno and Lawrence Busch (eds): Handbook of the international political economy of agriculture and food

Handbook of the International Political Economy of Agriculture and Food

Handbook of the International Political Economy of Agriculture and Food

Leveraging agriculture for nutrition in South Asia and East Africa: examining the enabling environment through stakeholder perceptions

South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are the two regions of the world with the highest concentration of undernutrition. The majority of the nutritionally vulnerable populations in both regions is dependent in some way upon agriculture as a primary source of livelihood. The agriculture sector and wider agri-food system is considered to be central to sustained progress in reducing undernutrition – and yet not enough is known about how to unleash this potential. Recent scoping assessments have also revealed a paucity of information on wider political, institutional and policy-related challenges relating to the agriculture-nutrition nexus globally. Contextualized research into policy processes and the political economy of agriculture and nutrition is needed to better characterize “enabling environments” for agriculture to benefit nutrition, and how these environments can be shaped and sustained. This study aims to contribute to filling this gap, by drawing upon evidence from a set of case studies in South Asia (India, Bangladesh and Pakistan) and eastern Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya). In synthesizing results across countries, while recognizing important nuance and detail, we conclude by highlighting four key issues to be addressed. First, improving knowledge and perception of undernutrition and its links to agriculture, on the part of agricultural policymakers and programme managers. Second, generating system-wide incentives for decisions and actions to become more pro-nutrition. Third, developing transparent systems of accountability for nutrition-relevant action throughout the agriculture sector, through linking timely and actionable data and evidence with incentives. And fourth, cultivating and strengthening leadership and capacities at different levels, underpinned by adequate financing.

Peasant-driven agricultural growth and food sovereignty

The concept of food sovereignty presents us with an important theoretical and practical challenge. The political economy of agriculture can only take up this gauntlet through improving its understanding of the processes of agricultural growth. It is very difficult to address the issue of food sovereignty without such an understanding. Developing such an understanding involves (re)combining the political economy of agriculture with the Chayanovian approach. This paper gives several explanations (all individually valid but stronger in combination) as to why peasant agriculture results in sturdy and sustainable growth and also identifies the factors that undermine this capacity. The paper also argues that peasant agriculture is far from being a remnant of the past. While different peasantries around the world are shaped and reproduced by today's capital (and more specifically by current food empires), they equally help to shape and contribute to the further unfolding of the forms of capital related to food and agriculture. It is important to understand this two-way interaction between capital and peasant agriculture as this helps to ground the concept of food sovereignty. The article argues that the capacity to produce enough food (at different levels, distinguishing different needs, and so on) needs to be an integral part of the food sovereignty discourse. It concludes by suggesting that peasant agriculture has the best potential for meeting food sovereignty largely because it has the capacity to produce (more than) sufficient good food for the growing world population and that it can do so in a way that is sustainable.

Reestructuración del sector agrario en Chile 1975-2010: entre el proteccionismo del Estado y el modelo económico neoliberal

Entre 1975-2010, el modelo de desarrollo de la agricultura chilena ha sido un caso paradigmático de crecimiento basado en un cambio importante de las orientaciones productivas, donde se produce una reorientación hacia aquellas producciones no tradicionales para la exportación como motor de crecimiento económico. La reestructuración económica de mediados de los setenta impuso un modelo económico neoliberal donde se fomentaron aquellas actividades productivas que poseían capacidades para comercializar productos en los mercados internacionales. Especialmente se hace referencia a productos agrarios no tradicionales (sector frutícola y la industria forestal - madera y celulosa principalmente). El paradigma exportador chileno funcionó basado en un alto nivel de endeudamiento con bancos y una excesiva concentración en grandes poderes compradores (especialmente mercados estadounidenses). El modelo fue exitoso mientras las rentabilidades fueron altas y los costos eran controlados, sin embargo, en los últimos años los márgenes de rentabilidad han disminuido cuestionando la continuidad de este modelo agroexportador. En este sentido, el sector se encuentra en una importante encrucijada que exige replantear las bases bajo las cuales se ha sustentado. Esta investigación utiliza la Nueva economía política de la agricultura, los Regímenes Alimentarios y el Estructuralismo económico como herramientas teórico-metodológicas para analizar los procesos antes mencionados.

Introduction to Lettuce Wars: A Cab Ride for a Lawyer

This an excerpt from the forthcoming Lettuce Wars: Ten Years of Work and Struggle in the Fields of California (Monthly Review Press, 2012). Part memoir, part informed commentary on farm labor, the U.S. labor movement, and the political economy of agriculture, Lettuce Wars is a lively account written from the perspective of the fields. Bruce Neuburger portrays the people he encountered—immigrant workers, fellow radicals, company bosses, cops and goons—vividly and indelibly, lending a human aspect to the conflict between capital and labor as it played out in the fields of California.This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website, where most recent articles are published in full.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.

Institutions and Sustainability: Political Economy of Agriculture and the Environment - Essays in Honour of Konrad Hagedorn

Institutions and Sustainability: Political Economy of Agriculture and the Environment - Essays in Honour of Konrad Hagedorn

Are Conventional Farmers Conventional? Analysis of the Environmental Orientations of Conventional New Zealand Farmers*

Abstract Within the political economy of agriculture and agrofood literatures there are examples of approaches that reject simple dichotomies between alternatives and the mainstream. In line with such approaches, we challenge the assumption that alternative agriculture, and its attendant improved environmental practices, alternative management styles, less intensive approaches, and better approaches to animal and ecosystem welfare, is the only source of agricultural sustainability. This article uses national farm‐survey results for New Zealand's sheep and beef, dairy, and horticulture sectors to examine conventional farmers, measure their assessments of farming practices, and assess their environmental orientation. Analysis identifies a proenvironmental cluster of farmers in each sector characterized by a higher environmental‐orientation score and distinct ratings of other farm practices queried in the survey. We interpret the results in terms of the exposure of different agricultural sectors to the effects of market‐based, audited, best‐practice schemes. The presence of shades of “greenness” among conventional farmers has important implications for environmental management and for our understanding of the various and complex pathways toward the greening of agrofood systems.

The 2008 World Development Report and the political economy of Southeast Asian agriculture

This article seeks to determine what light the literature on the political economy of agriculture in Southeast Asia can shed on the analysis that underpins the World Bank's 2008 World Development Report, Agriculture for Development. It argues that work on Southeast Asia highlights gaps and problems in the Bank's account relating to the dynamics of boom crops, to the nature of social and political mobilisation around agriculture, and to the conceptualisation of agrarian transition.

Fecal free: Biology and authority in industrialized Midwestern pork production

Ethnographically, ''fecal free'' is a lexical marker that invokes a form of industrialized swine husbandry used in large-scale confinement hog production. Using participant observation and interview research with Illinois contract hog producers, I explore the basis of this husbandry in the biological fragility of confinement hogs. Rather than biology being a simplistic ''state of nature,'' as it was in early neo-Marxist and populist studies of the 1970s, the frailty of confinement hogs suggests that industrial hog biology is a socially constructed state that justifies the use of contract-based hog production units and their coordination with animal processors. The frailty of confinement hogs results from their genetic characteristics, from the conditions in which they are raised, and from a production rationality that equates animal health with production efficiency. I detail the multiple-site methods, confinement technologies, and contract-based production organization required to raise biologically fragile hogs. And I link hog biology directly to the unequal contract-based relations between actors in industrial pork networks. My study emphasizes the relevance of ethnographic analyses within a political economy of agriculture by describing specific relations of inequalities in local and regional production units and distribution networks that form the building blocks of larger global agro-food systems.

Disciplining Nature: The Homogenising and Constraining Forces of Anti-Markets on the Food System

To understand the changing patterns within agriculture, it is important to look not only at social relations and organisational configurations. Also salient to such an analysis is an examination of how those formations give shape to non-humans. Much attention has been placed recently on the political economy of agriculture when speaking of these emergent patterns. Yet in doing this, the natural environment is all too often relegated to the backdrop; where the agro-economy is viewed as something that manoeuvres within the environment but never through it. The conceptual groundwork for this paper draws from two often unconnected scholars: Michel Foucault and Fernand Braudel. In Foucault, we find a framework, with a little conceptual development, through which to talk about how the economy (of both discipline and capital) enters into nature. Specifically, the argument is made that through the embodiment of discipline, nature too becomes disciplined. Yet in Foucault we find a discursive conception of socio-economic history; where capitalism is discussed, but always as an effect of the discursive structures of power/knowledge. Enter the work of Braudel, to provide us with a materialist counterweight to Foucault's theorising. In Braudel, we find a detailed analysis on the emergence of capitalism, out of which then comes his distinction between markets and anti-markets. In short, when both accounts of history are overlaid, interesting connections between the emergence of Braudelian anti-markets and Foucaultian discipline are revealed. Two brief case studies are then examined to add further depth to the discussion: the first focusing on corn; the second centring on the cow. The paper then concludes speaking on the issue of resistance.