African farm dynamics and the sub-continental food crisis – the case of maize

In English This is a longitudinal study of smallholder farm dynamics in eight African countries, drawing on a sample of more than 3000 farm households. It deals with influences on smallholder maize production at three different levels: micro, meso and macro. Although the study points to inadequately exploited production potentials and a production system based primarily on self-provisioning the drivers behind dynamism in this context are clear. Dynamic production patterns are closely associated with smallholder access to modern crop technologies in combination with commercial incentives as expressed both at the meso and macro levels.