Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

No quick fixes : four interacting constraints to advancing agroecology in Uganda

Isgren, Ellinor LU (2016) In International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 14(4). p.428-447
Abstract

A century after its inception, agroecology has entered mainstream development debates as a more sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural modernization of relevance not least for improving smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Agroecology is a broad concept considered to have transformative potential, yet as a research field it has often been technology-centred and focused at the local level. Building on the experiences of Ugandan agroecologists working in an array of agricultural professions throughout the country, this paper identifies and discusses major barriers to agroecology in Uganda. Inductive analysis of qualitative data from interviews and focus groups generated four types of interacting barriers;... (More)

A century after its inception, agroecology has entered mainstream development debates as a more sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural modernization of relevance not least for improving smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Agroecology is a broad concept considered to have transformative potential, yet as a research field it has often been technology-centred and focused at the local level. Building on the experiences of Ugandan agroecologists working in an array of agricultural professions throughout the country, this paper identifies and discusses major barriers to agroecology in Uganda. Inductive analysis of qualitative data from interviews and focus groups generated four types of interacting barriers; constraints at farmer level, an agricultural knowledge system favouring conventional approaches, adverse and intertwined political and economic interests, and cross-cutting ideological and discursive pressures. These broad challenges become manifest in the accounts presented, making clear that barriers to and therefore also appropriate strategies for advancing agroecology must be treated as contextual even if a ‘global movement’ is emerging around it. The discussion suggests theoretical lenses for further inquiry into agroecology and its realization in light of these constraints.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
agricultural knowledge systems, agricultural sustainability, agroecology, modernization, rural development, Uganda
in
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
volume
14
issue
4
pages
428 - 447
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000381492100004
  • scopus:84961197877
ISSN
1473-5903
DOI
10.1080/14735903.2016.1144699
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
37dd163f-37b4-4a1e-ad94-eab00bb6dfa5
date added to LUP
2016-06-15 14:01:48
date last changed
2024-03-07 07:58:03
@article{37dd163f-37b4-4a1e-ad94-eab00bb6dfa5,
  abstract     = {{<p>A century after its inception, agroecology has entered mainstream development debates as a more sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural modernization of relevance not least for improving smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Agroecology is a broad concept considered to have transformative potential, yet as a research field it has often been technology-centred and focused at the local level. Building on the experiences of Ugandan agroecologists working in an array of agricultural professions throughout the country, this paper identifies and discusses major barriers to agroecology in Uganda. Inductive analysis of qualitative data from interviews and focus groups generated four types of interacting barriers; constraints at farmer level, an agricultural knowledge system favouring conventional approaches, adverse and intertwined political and economic interests, and cross-cutting ideological and discursive pressures. These broad challenges become manifest in the accounts presented, making clear that barriers to and therefore also appropriate strategies for advancing agroecology must be treated as contextual even if a ‘global movement’ is emerging around it. The discussion suggests theoretical lenses for further inquiry into agroecology and its realization in light of these constraints.</p>}},
  author       = {{Isgren, Ellinor}},
  issn         = {{1473-5903}},
  keywords     = {{agricultural knowledge systems; agricultural sustainability; agroecology; modernization; rural development; Uganda}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{428--447}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability}},
  title        = {{No quick fixes : four interacting constraints to advancing agroecology in Uganda}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/85445760/No_quick_fixes_four_interacting_constraints_to_advancing_agroecology_in_Uganda.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/14735903.2016.1144699}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}