Resource information
In this paper, we will explore the ways in which sustainable intensification interventions
often overlook fundamental social dynamics in rural landscapes. We provide evidence of
the underlying social, political and environmental contexts that affect farmers’ land-use
decisions. While there are numerous initiatives to promote a Green Revolution for Africa,
many tend to be dominated by technical fixes that fail to understand rural farmers’ condi
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tions or aspirations and focus narrowly on increasing productivity. These technical solu
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tions rarely address the broader social, economic and political challenges to agricultural
production and farmers’ livelihoods. Finally, top-down technical approaches frequently
fail to build on the local knowledge, innovative capacity and expertise of farmers and
members of rural communities throughout Africa. Examples from fieldwork in Ghana,
Ethiopia and Tanzania are used to illustrate our arguments.
