However, even though women are a major part of the labour force in SSA (Bryceson
2018) (see Chap. 1 Vol. 1), they are often barred from formal employment in
industrial crop plantations due to lack of skillset, cultural reasons and the fact that
formal waged jobs are often seen as a male domain (Sect. 3.3.2.4). Female entry in
smallholder-based industrial crop production is also not straightforward, as they
often lack land titles and decision-making power in family farms (Bryceson 2018).
Finally, as already discussed in Sect. 3.3.1 and above, the mode of industrial crop
production can have important effects on food security through multiple impact
mechanisms. However, deciding the fitness of particular modes of production is not
straightforward and can depend on various factors. Some of the most important such
factors include (a) crop characteristics/agronomy (b) production characteristics
(e.g. labour intensity, returns to investment); (c) marketing characteristics
(e.g. potential buyers, processing needs); (d) exogenous economic and political
factors (e.g. land scarcity, population density) and (e) endogenous economic and
political factors (e.g. input markets, low producer capacity, weak property rights
enforcement) (Benfica et al. 2002).
3.4.2 Policy and Practice Implications and Recommendations
As outlined in Sect. 3.3, there are multiple trade-offs at the interface of industrial
crop production and food security in SSA. When critically viewing the evidence
outlined throughout this chapter it is possible to identify some priority policy and
practice domains that can be targeted to enhance the positive (or reduce the negative)
food security outcomes of industrial crop production. Below we outline three
priority domains that are at the intersection of multiple SDGs:
• Safeguard the long-term economic and employment benefits accruing from
engagement in industrial crop production,
• Enhance farm output for both industrial crops and food crops, while avoiding
negative environmental impacts,
• Enhance female participation in industrial crop production, while reducing the
negative effects of time diversion from unpaid household care work.
Regarding the first priority domain, income and employment generation are two
of the main mechanisms through which industrial crop production has a positive
effect on food security (Sects. 3.3.2 and 3.4.1). That said, government policies
should support the economic viability and sustainability of industrial crop production systems. In particular, a key aim should be to achieve the better balance between
competition and coordination, and provide appropriate incentives to better safeguard
the interests of farmers when engaging in industrial crop value chains. This would
entail different incentives to smallholders, plantation owners and other players
across industrial crop value chains (e.g. millers, transporters). Such a coordinated
approach could send strong signals about the long-term policy commitment in
122
M. P. Jarzebski et al.
2018) (see Chap. 1 Vol. 1), they are often barred from formal employment in
industrial crop plantations due to lack of skillset, cultural reasons and the fact that
formal waged jobs are often seen as a male domain (Sect. 3.3.2.4). Female entry in
smallholder-based industrial crop production is also not straightforward, as they
often lack land titles and decision-making power in family farms (Bryceson 2018).
Finally, as already discussed in Sect. 3.3.1 and above, the mode of industrial crop
production can have important effects on food security through multiple impact
mechanisms. However, deciding the fitness of particular modes of production is not
straightforward and can depend on various factors. Some of the most important such
factors include (a) crop characteristics/agronomy (b) production characteristics
(e.g. labour intensity, returns to investment); (c) marketing characteristics
(e.g. potential buyers, processing needs); (d) exogenous economic and political
factors (e.g. land scarcity, population density) and (e) endogenous economic and
political factors (e.g. input markets, low producer capacity, weak property rights
enforcement) (Benfica et al. 2002).
3.4.2 Policy and Practice Implications and Recommendations
As outlined in Sect. 3.3, there are multiple trade-offs at the interface of industrial
crop production and food security in SSA. When critically viewing the evidence
outlined throughout this chapter it is possible to identify some priority policy and
practice domains that can be targeted to enhance the positive (or reduce the negative)
food security outcomes of industrial crop production. Below we outline three
priority domains that are at the intersection of multiple SDGs:
• Safeguard the long-term economic and employment benefits accruing from
engagement in industrial crop production,
• Enhance farm output for both industrial crops and food crops, while avoiding
negative environmental impacts,
• Enhance female participation in industrial crop production, while reducing the
negative effects of time diversion from unpaid household care work.
Regarding the first priority domain, income and employment generation are two
of the main mechanisms through which industrial crop production has a positive
effect on food security (Sects. 3.3.2 and 3.4.1). That said, government policies
should support the economic viability and sustainability of industrial crop production systems. In particular, a key aim should be to achieve the better balance between
competition and coordination, and provide appropriate incentives to better safeguard
the interests of farmers when engaging in industrial crop value chains. This would
entail different incentives to smallholders, plantation owners and other players
across industrial crop value chains (e.g. millers, transporters). Such a coordinated
approach could send strong signals about the long-term policy commitment in
122
M. P. Jarzebski et al.