Description
Book SynopsisThe subject of food security and land issues in Africa has become one of increased importance and contention over recent years. In particular, the focus has shifted to the role new global South donors - especially India, China and Brazil - are playing in shaping African agriculture through their increased involvement and investment in the continent. Approaching the topic through the framework of South-South co-operation, this highly original volume presents a critical analysis of the ways in which Chinese, Indian and Brazilian engagements in African agriculture are structured and implemented. Do these investments have the potential to create new opportunities to improve local living standards, transfer new technology and knowhow to African producers, and reverse the persistent productivity decline in African agriculture? Or will they simply aggravate the problem of food insecurity by accelerating the process of land alienation and displacement of local people from their land? Topical and comprehensive, Agricultural Development and Food Security in Africa offers fresh insight into a set of relationships that will shape both Africa and the world over the coming decades.
Trade ReviewGlobal power structures are changing at an ever rapid pace. Now more than ever, our concepts and understandings are playing a game of catch-up to reality. Agricultural Development and Food Security in Africa offers unsentimental and timely analyses of new forms of South-South integration, subordination and alienation. Cheru and Modi demonstrate how land - with its double dimensions as territory and property - is at the heart of these dynamics. * Christian Lund, University of Copenhagen *
Agriculture is the most important field in Africa and peasants have played a key role in both decolonization and current social life. In the context of globalization, foreign investment in African agriculture, especially from emerging countries such as China, India and Brazil has drawn criticism from the Western media and many African civil society organizations. How to assess the effect of this kind of investment? This book analyses the interaction between emerging countries and Africa, offers insightful views on the issue, and leaves some questions to think about. * Li Anshan, Peking University *
This is a timely and insightful book. As Brazil, China and India increase their role in Africa's agriculture, fine-grained analyses about the patterns, drivers and impacts of that involvement are particularly welcome. And while much debate on "land grabbing" has been dominated by Western writers, this book presents a mosaic of perspectives from Southern authors. The result is a thought-provoking read for anybody interested in understanding the changing landscape of African agriculture. * Lorenzo Cotula, Institute for Environment and Development *
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction: peasants, the state and foreign direct investment in African agriculture - Fantu Cheru and Renu Modi Part I: Overview 1. Catalysing an agricultural revolution in Africa: what role for foreign direct investment? - Fantu Cheru, Renu Modi and Sanusha Naidu 2. Agrarian transformation in Africa and its decolonisation - Sam Moyo Part II: India 3. India and Africa: new trends in sustainable agricultural development - Gurjit Singh 4. India's strategy for African agriculture: assessing the technology, knowledge and finance platforms - Renu Modi 5. Up for grabs: the case of large Indian investments in Ethiopian agriculture - Dessalegn Rahmato 6. Indian agricultural companies, 'land grabbing' in Africa and activists' responses - Rick Rowden Part III: Brazil 7. Brazil's cooperation in African agricultural development and food security - Thomas Cooper Patriota and Francesco Maria Pierri 8. Brazil, biofuels and food security in Mozambique - Kai Thaler 9. South-South cooperation in agriculture: the India, Brazil and South Africa Dialogue Forum - Alexandra Arkhangelskaya and Albert Khamatshin Part IV: China 10. China's food security challenge: what role for Africa? - Simon Freemantle and Jeremy Stevens 11. China's agricultural and rural development: lessons for African countries - Xiuli Xu and Xiaoyun Li 12. Conclusions and the way forward - Fantu Cheru and Renu Modi
