VoxDev Development Economics S5 Ep6: Development Dialogues: What is the role of small farms in the future of agriculture?
Jun 18, 2025
Mark Rosenzweig, a Yale economist known for his insights on global farming, joins Christopher Udry, who focuses on sub-Saharan rural economies, and Gérardine Mukeshimana, former Minister of Agriculture in Rwanda. They delve into the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Africa, discussing low productivity and land tenure issues. The trio examines the balance between small and large farms, emphasizing innovation and targeted policies to enhance agricultural efficiency. They advocate for integrating small farms into value chains while addressing climate change and inequality.
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Impact of Farm Size on Productivity
- Small farm sizes limit the use of mechanization, which drives massive productivity gains in large farms.
- Increasing farm size drastically boosts output and income by reducing labor underutilization and transaction costs.
Rwanda's Land Aggregation Example
- Rwanda aggregated 12 hectares of very small plots to enable mechanization and irrigation.
- This aggregation led to significant productivity improvements linked to market access and reinvestment potential.
Land Tenure Impedes Consolidation
- Land tenure systems in parts of Africa strongly restrict land consolidation.
- Collective land rights protect social structures but hinder the formation of larger, mechanized farms.