Gender, politics and sugarcane commercialisation in Tanzania

Document Type

Article

Department

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Abstract

This article explores relationships between state, corporate capital and local stakeholders in the political economy of sugarcane from a gender perspective. The findings, based on empirical research at the site of Tanzania’s largest sugarcane producer pre- and post-privatisation, provide insights into the degree to which the estate-outgrower model can be regarded as ‘inclusive’ for women and men. Three aspects of commercial sugarcane production are analysed: land tenure, labour and leadership within canegrowers’ associations. We argue that politico-economic changes in the sector post-privatisation have increased gender differentiation in sugarcane production and consolidated power in the hands of local elites.

Comments

This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.

Publication (Name of Journal)

The Journal of Peasant Studies

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2019.1632294

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