Rural and Agrarian Change, Property and Resources

Cluster leader: Kjell Havnevik

This research cluster involves the following programmes and projects:

• Large scale agro investments in Tanzania – impacts on smallholder land access and food security
  Researcher: Kjell Havnevik
• To follow cattle or the sheikh? Socio-religious change among the pastoralists in Cameroon
  Researcher: Tea Virtanen
• Poor people’s livelihood strategies in coastal communities in Eastern Zanzibar
  Researcher: Eva Tobisson
  
• Rainmaking and Climate Change in Tanzania: Traditions, Rituals and Globalisation
  Researcher: Terje Oestigaard

Rural life and agriculture remain foundational to African societies. The majority of Africa’s populations still lives in, or is closely connected to rural areas and relies on smallholder agricultural production and livestock rearing for domestic food consumption and as a source of income.

Non-agricultural activities have taken on an increasing importance over time depending on the local resource profile.

Peak oil, climate change and rising food prices have led to a growing global concern for food and energy securities in the North and East. This has accelerated land grabbing, including land and water conflicts. Migration to and remittances from urban areas and beyond play important, however, variable role for rural dwellers.

Rural and agriculture production and resources are also connected with vital aspects of people’s lives in terms of culture, religion and identity. Smallholder agriculture and pastoralism are characterized by subsistence, a highly gendered division of labour, an important role for women, low levels of productivity and widespread poverty, uncertainty and vulnerability. This situation is exacerbated by high incidences of HIV/AIDS and other illnesses.

Improvements of rural and agricultural technologies and tenure security are therefore critical for strengthening both rural livelihoods and national development. To this effect, external and aid interventions currently aim at promoting a Green Revolution in Africa, based on the Asian model. To promote change in complex societal contexts, where transactions and relations are founded on reciprocity, redistribution and well as the market is however challenging.