Giving smallholders a stronger voice through collaboration

Smallholders rarely have the opportunity to frame the research questions that are relevant to them and to investigate the issues that concern them. In Ghana and Tanzania, a research project led by the University of Leeds sought to change this by bolstering equitable research collaborations between universities and farmers' organisations.

In Ghana, the project brought together academics from the University of Cape Coast, University of Development Studies and the University of Ghana and representatives of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG).

In Tanzania, the network partners came from the University Dar es Salaam, Sokoine University of Agriculture and the National Network of Small-Scale Farmers Groups in Tanzania (MVIWATA).

Creating an equitable partnership where both sides really work together is much more likely to ensure outcomes for both parties: building research capacity in the universities and developing an evidence base for advocacy for the farmers’ organisations. And that will give both a stronger voice in policy forums.

—Professor Anne Tallontire

Impact

• Facilitated community-led projects in Ghana and Tanzania, which supported farmers and smallholders to discuss the use of seeds, land ownership, finance and credit informed by political economy and agro-ecology perspectives.

Key information

• Partners and collaborators: University of Cape Coast, University of Development Studies, University of Ghana, Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), University Dar es Salaam, Sokoine University of Agriculture, National Network of Small-Scale Farmers Groups in Tanzania (MVIWATA)
  
• Disciplines: agriculture, sustainable food systems
• Investigators: Professor Anne Tallontire.

Keywords: research culture, international collaboration, community groups, Africa, early career researchers, fieldwork, farming, agriculture, small-scale farming