Productive forces and the contradictions of capitalist agriculture: agroecology as a sustainable alternative in Sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract This paper critiques the assumption that capitalist agriculture inherently develops productive forces, highlighting its internal contradictions and questioning its sustainability as a viable agricultural model. Using immanent critique, the paper engages with the capitalist framework on its...
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| Format: | Article |
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2024-11-01
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| Series: | Discover Sustainability |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00684-7 |
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| author | Bernard Ekumah |
| author_facet | Bernard Ekumah |
| author_sort | Bernard Ekumah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This paper critiques the assumption that capitalist agriculture inherently develops productive forces, highlighting its internal contradictions and questioning its sustainability as a viable agricultural model. Using immanent critique, the paper engages with the capitalist framework on its own terms to demonstrate how its focus on profit maximisation and short-term productivity leads to long-term ecological degradation, social inequities, and the erosion of essential agroecological knowledge. The focus is on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region with immense agricultural potential, regarded as the last frontier of capitalist agricultural development and heavily affected by the ecological crises. The paper argues that agroecology offers a sustainable alternative that prioritises social justice, environmental sustainability, and the empowerment of smallholder farmers. Integrating traditional agroecological knowledge with scientific innovation, agroecology challenges the dominant capitalist model, proposing a more just and resilient agricultural system for SSA. It concludes by emphasising the critical role of social movements in driving the transition to agroecology in the region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4265a3c8f91948199188c749c1a1ff16 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-9984 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-4265a3c8f91948199188c749c1a1ff162024-12-01T12:06:35ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842024-11-015111410.1007/s43621-024-00684-7Productive forces and the contradictions of capitalist agriculture: agroecology as a sustainable alternative in Sub-Saharan AfricaBernard Ekumah0Lund University Centre for Sustainability StudiesAbstract This paper critiques the assumption that capitalist agriculture inherently develops productive forces, highlighting its internal contradictions and questioning its sustainability as a viable agricultural model. Using immanent critique, the paper engages with the capitalist framework on its own terms to demonstrate how its focus on profit maximisation and short-term productivity leads to long-term ecological degradation, social inequities, and the erosion of essential agroecological knowledge. The focus is on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region with immense agricultural potential, regarded as the last frontier of capitalist agricultural development and heavily affected by the ecological crises. The paper argues that agroecology offers a sustainable alternative that prioritises social justice, environmental sustainability, and the empowerment of smallholder farmers. Integrating traditional agroecological knowledge with scientific innovation, agroecology challenges the dominant capitalist model, proposing a more just and resilient agricultural system for SSA. It concludes by emphasising the critical role of social movements in driving the transition to agroecology in the region.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00684-7Social movementsCapability approach Immanent critiqueFood securityAgriculture development |
| spellingShingle | Bernard Ekumah Productive forces and the contradictions of capitalist agriculture: agroecology as a sustainable alternative in Sub-Saharan Africa Discover Sustainability Social movements Capability approach Immanent critique Food security Agriculture development |
| title | Productive forces and the contradictions of capitalist agriculture: agroecology as a sustainable alternative in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full | Productive forces and the contradictions of capitalist agriculture: agroecology as a sustainable alternative in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_fullStr | Productive forces and the contradictions of capitalist agriculture: agroecology as a sustainable alternative in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Productive forces and the contradictions of capitalist agriculture: agroecology as a sustainable alternative in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_short | Productive forces and the contradictions of capitalist agriculture: agroecology as a sustainable alternative in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_sort | productive forces and the contradictions of capitalist agriculture agroecology as a sustainable alternative in sub saharan africa |
| topic | Social movements Capability approach Immanent critique Food security Agriculture development |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00684-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bernardekumah productiveforcesandthecontradictionsofcapitalistagricultureagroecologyasasustainablealternativeinsubsaharanafrica |