Expanding the role of African farmers is crucial to maintaining ecological balance while sustaining the continent. Smallholder farmers, who produce approximately 85% of agricultural output across Africa, are often perceived as using inefficient or outdated practices. This view has led to an ongoing push for modernization, with an emphasis on introducing technical innovations, market infrastructures, and industrial farming methods. However, as climate change and food security challenges intensify, there is a growing need to rethink how innovation is approached in agriculture, particularly in the context of smallholder farming.
A key initiative that addresses this need is the “Prosperity and Innovation in the Past and Future of Farming in Africa” (PIPFA) program, which seeks to empower smallholder farmers in Eastern Africa by recognizing their role as drivers of agricultural innovation. The program, in partnership with local governments, academic institutions, and international organizations, explores how to redesign agricultural systems in ways that support both the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and the regeneration of local ecologies.
Smallholder farmers possess a wealth of knowledge and experience, honed over generations, that has allowed them to adapt to environmental challenges and innovate in response to changing conditions. This knowledge is not static but is dynamic and continually evolving. By focusing on the practices and innovations of smallholder farmers, the PIPFA program aims to create models for food systems that are more inclusive, equitable, and ecologically sustainable.
One of the key findings from PIPFA’s research is that farming practices are the result of a creative interplay between historical and contemporary influences. Smallholders are just as likely to use traditional crop varieties, such as genetically distinct landraces of sorghum, as they are to adopt modern hybrid varieties like maize. Their decisions are influenced by a variety of factors, including the wisdom passed down from previous generations, as well as contemporary sources such as international aid organizations, agricultural television programs, and even the global marketplace. This blend of tradition and innovation demonstrates that smallholder farmers are not merely passive recipients of external knowledge but active agents of change in their own right.
The PIPFA project has been instrumental in documenting and analyzing the agricultural practices of smallholders, including an archive of historic and contemporary crop varieties and cropping combinations. This knowledge base is continually growing, providing valuable insights into the adaptability and resilience of smallholder farming systems. The program’s research highlights the importance of understanding farming as a creative process, shaped by both local traditions and external influences.
Moreover, PIPFA has led to policy dialogues and workshops that aim to enhance the support for smallholder innovation. These discussions have informed the development of policy frameworks that prioritize farmer-led agriculture and regenerative practices. The project has also contributed to a broader understanding of how smallholder farmers respond to crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, droughts, and locust outbreaks. By focusing on the histories of creative emergency responses, the initiative seeks to empower farmers to continue innovating in the face of multiple challenges.
Ultimately, the work of the PIPFA partnership is helping to shift the narrative around African agriculture, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge and practices in building sustainable and prosperous food systems. By recognizing the role of smallholder farmers as innovators, rather than simply recipients of external solutions, the initiative is laying the groundwork for more resilient and ecologically balanced agricultural systems across the continent.
