Nazia Habib*
Professor and Head of Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development Programme (CRSD),
Cambridge University, UK
This article critically explores the political economy of genetically modifi ed (GM) maize adoption in South Africa, focusing on its impact on smallholder farmers using the whole-of-systems approach. While South Africa has become a leader in GM maize production, the benefi ts have been unevenly distributed, particularly disadvantaging smallholders. Government eff orts to integrate smallholders into the GM maize value chain have faced signifi cant challenges, including structural inequalities, high input costs, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to education and resources. The article analyzes the broader political, economic, and environmental contexts, revealing how global trade policies, foreign investments, and domestic regulatory frameworks infl uence smallholder integration into the global maize value chain. A case study of the Eastern Cape province underscores the additional challenges smallholders face, such as climate change, labor shortages, and barriers to market access. Despite GM maize’s potential to improve food security and smallholder incomes, the article argues that current policies and institutional frameworks need substantial reforms to ensure equitable benefi ts. The research highlights the need for a multidimensional approach that addresses the socioeconomic, political, and environmental factors constraining smallholder participation in the GM maize sector, calling for targeted interventions to bridge the gap between large-scale commercial farms and smallholders.
Purpose
This article examines the whole systems approach of genetically modifi ed (GM) maize adoption in South Africa, focusing on the impacts on
smallholder farmers. It aims to explore how structural inequalities, global trade policies, and domestic regulations infl uence the integration of
smallholders into the GM maize value chain, and to assess whether current initiatives eff ectively support food security and income growth for these
farmers.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employs a comparative political-economic analysis, combining an extensive literature review with empirical data from fi eldwork
between 2014 and 2015. The study examines the South African government’s eff orts to promote GM maize adoption and smallholder integration into
the global maize value chain, with a specifi c case study of the Eastern Cape province. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of
the socio-economic, political, and environmental contexts aff ecting smallholder participation.
Findings
The study fi nds that despite South Africa’s leadership in GM maize production, the benefi ts remain unevenly distributed, particularly disadvantaging
smallholders. High input costs, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to education hinder their participation in the value chain. Moreover,
global trade policies and foreign investments often exacerbate these challenges, rather than alleviate them. The case study of the Eastern Cape
highlights additional barriers such as climate change and labor shortages. The research concludes that current policies and institutional frameworks
require substantial reform to ensure equitable benefi ts for smallholders.
Originality
This article provides a nuanced analysis of the intersection between GM maize adoption and smallholder agriculture in South Africa by applying
a whole-of-systems approach to the case study analysis. The study is emphasizing the need for a multidimensional approach to address persistent
inequalities. It contributes original insights into the broader debate on the role of modern agricultural technologies in enhancing food security and
economic inclusion for smallholder farmers in developing countries.
Keywords: Genetically Modifi ed Maize; Smallholder Farmers Political Economy; Food Security; Agricultural Policy; South Africa; Value Chain Integration
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