Contemporary large-scale farmland acquisitions and food sovereignty : the case of smallholders in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Despite increasing modernization in agriculture globally, the majority of people in developing countries are still dependant on low input, limited technology smallholder farming for their food and livelihood. The 2007-2008 global economic crisis saw a surge in the proliferation of private and foreign investors in Sub-Saharan Africa seeking to acquire farmland for the commercial production of export products consumed, with major impacts on smallholder agriculture. Using Sierra Leone as a case study, this thesis examines the impact of such acquisitions on the basis of a food sovereignty approach, highlighting the socio-economic livelihood opportunities available for smallholders in the face of a global land rush. Findings demonstrate that farmland acquisitions can present more challenges than opportunities for small farmers in affected communities. Evidence suggests the lack of access to local food, loss of control over land and other productive resources, and loss of reliable livelihood opportunities.