Unpacking the narrative of agricultural innovations as the sine qua non of sustainable rural livelihoods in Southern Africa

Abstract

There is a strong narrative in southern Africa that posits agricultural innovations as the sine qua non of sustainable rural livelihoods. This mantra is based on the belief that the success of the Green Revolution, which lifted millions out of food insecurity in Europe and North America, and later in Asia and South America, should be replicated in Africa. The pervasive food insecurity on the continent is used to justify the narrative. The positivist science and communicative rationality slant of this narrative, overlooks peculiarities of the biophysical and socio-economic aspects of agricultural production in Africa, particularly in smallholder farming systems, which are dominant on the continent. By promoting a de-contextualised account of agricultural production, the narrative distorts the contribution of agriculture to sustainable rural livelihoods. We propose a social constructivist approach to agricultural innovations that is based on a proper contextualisation of the prevailing biophysical and socio-economic conditions, understanding of the dynamics of agricultural innovations, and nature of rural livelihoods in southern Africa.