Working Paper

Good Farmers’ on sub-Saharan Africa: Evolving Narratives

Published on 1 December 2011

In this paper, the example of cocoa production in Ghana is used to explore how the narratives portraying African farmers have changed over the last 70 years. These evolving narratives are explored through the notion of a ‘good farmer’.

The argument is that, as the image of African farmers has been progressively rehabilitated (from ignorant and tradition-bound to skilled and research-minded), the image of formal research and extension has suffered. This reversal was associated with the progressive disempowering of formal agricultural research. With the recent renewed interest in agricultural development, narratives about African farmers are again evolving: ‘good farmers’ are now increasingly being defined as those who approach their farming as a proper business.

Authors

James Sumberg

Emeritus Fellow

Publication details

published by
IDS
authors
Sumberg, J.
journal
FAC Working Paper, issue 21

Share

About this publication

Region
Ghana

Related content

Working Paper

Reframing the Accountability of Social Assistance in Crises: Emerging Evidence and Promising Practices

BASIC Research Working Paper 39

18 June 2025

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.