The book investigates the intersection of agriculture and development in Africa and how it impacts rural industrialisation prospects. It provides a comprehensive view of the position of agriculture in African socio-economic activities and the agricultural sector's potential as the source for continental development and industrialisation prospects. Significant research has been done on African development with a focus placed on the problematic role played by slavery, colonialism and later by incompetent African leaders who failed to steer development of the type that delivers a progressive, sustained and sustainable transformation of lives and societies. There is limited focus on the possibility of agriculture being the potential basis of African development and the chance for industrialisation. This is a matter of concern, considering the dominance of agriculture as a livelihood and income source for many people on the continent.
In contributing to the debate on development in Africa, this book aims to show how agriculture can serve as the basis for African development and industrialisation. This will be achieved by (i) providing a detailed historical description of the position of agriculture in African socio-economic activities, (ii) outlining the trajectory of African development with a focus on agriculture, innovation, and mechanisation, (iii) identifying challenges to the development of African agriculture, (iv) exploring the opportunities for agricultural development in Africa, and (v) providing practical and policy recommendations to improve African agriculture and make it the engine for development and industrialisation.
Utilising a multidisciplinary approach which combines political economy, social policy, financial inclusion, and empowerment approaches, the book also shows how engagement of youth and women, digitalisation, and the provision of support (by public and private actors) can jump-start agriculture as the engine of African development and industrialisation. Taken together with this conscious effort to promote a multi-disciplinary discussion, the book is valuable reading for students, policymakers, and activists interested in emerging new directions in African development thinking and research.
Chapter 1: Introduction: Historicising and Theorising Agriculture,
Development, and Industrialisation in Africa.- Part I: Agricultural
Development Trajectory In Africa.- Chapter 2: Agricultural Development,
Innovation, and Mechanisation in Pre-Colonial Africa.
Chapter 3: Africa and
The Colonial Encounter With Europe: Implications For Agricultural Development
and Industrialisation.- Chapter 4: Early Post-Colonial Development and
Industrialisation Trajectory In Africa.- Part II: Disrupted Recovery.-
Chapter 5: The Advent of Structural Adjustments In Africa: Implications For
Agricultural Development And Prospects For Industrialisation.- Chapter
6: Post-Structural Adjustment Cooperation In Africa: Prospects For Autonomous
Development and Industrialisation.- Part III: Monopoly-Finance Capital And
Opportunistic Partnerships.
Chapter 7: International Agri-Investments In
Africa: Implications For Agricultural Development And Prospects For Rural
Industrialisation.- Chapter 8: Sino-Africa Economic Partnerships, Peasant
Livelihoods, And Development In Africa.
Chapter 9: Partnerships,
Agricultural Development, and Prospects For Industrialisation In Rural
Africa.- Part IV: Recovery Barriers Amidst Old Challenges.
Chapter 10: War
and Conflict: Effect On African Agriculture and Agribusiness and Prospects
For Industrialisation.- Chapter 11: Climate Change: Implications For
Agricultural Development and Prospects For Industrialisation In Sub-Saharan
Africa.- Part V: Building Recovery and Resilience.- Chapter 12: Agricultural
Digitalisation and Prospects For Rural Industrialisation In Africa.- Chapter
13: Digitalisation In Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities and Challenges For
Smallholder Farmers.
Chapter 14: Youths, Agricultural Development and
Prospects For Industrialisation In Rural Africa.- Chapter 15: Financial
Inclusion, Agricultural Development, and Prospects For Industrialisation In
Africa.- Chapter 16: Women, Agricultural Development, and Prospects for
Industrialisation In Africa.- Part VI: Conclusion and Policy
Recommendations.- Chapter 17: Conclusion: Agriculture - Africas Engine For
Development and Prospects For Industrialisation.
Emmanuel Ndhlovu is a Research Fellow within the College of Business and Economics at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds a PhD (2021), MA (2017) (Cum Laude), and BA Honours (2013) degrees in Development Studies from the University of South Africa. He also holds a BA Honours in English studies (2008) from the University of Zimbabwe. His research interests cover a wide range of topics, including agrarian political economy, food systems, food security, land reform, agriculture and agribusiness, and social protection. Emmanuel has published over 50 book chapters and over 30 journal articles. He has also co-edited eight books.
