Contract farming and peasant livelihoods: The case of sugar out-grower schemes in Manhica District, Mozambique

The focus of the study was to investigate the effect of contract farming on peasant livelihoods in Manhica District, Mozambique. A mixture of approaches which combine qualitative and quantitative methods were used in the study. The results show that small scale farmers have no control over cane prices and there is a lack of transparency between out-growers and the milling companies on price issues. Fuelling the power asymmetries between the plantation estate and sugar out-growers is the monopsonistic nature of the sugar industry as well as the weak nature of producer associations in Mozambique. Women participation in out grower schemes and in employment opportunities at the Maragra estate was found to be very low and this is attributable to patriarchy and low levels of education. The study also established that the process of differentiation was taking place in Manhica and being driven by non- agriculture sources of income derived from working at Maragra Estate as well as migratory work. To read more follow the link below