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Big sugar in southern Africa : rural development and the perverted potential of sugar/ethanol exports

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Richardson, Ben. (2010) Big sugar in southern Africa : rural development and the perverted potential of sugar/ethanol exports. Journal of Peasant Studies, The, Vol.37 (No.4). pp. 917-938. ISSN 0306-6150

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2010.512464

Abstract

This paper asks how investment in large-scale sugar cane production has contributed, and will contribute, to rural development in southern Africa. Taking a case study of the South African company Illovo in Zambia, the argument is made that the potential for greater tax revenue, domestic competition, access to resources and wealth distribution from sugar/ethanol production have all been perverted and with relatively little payoff in wage labour opportunities in return. If the benefits of agro-exports cannot be so easily assumed, then the prospective 'balance sheet' of biofuels needs to be re-examined. In this light, the paper advocates smaller-scale agrarian initiatives.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor

Divisions:

Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Sugar trade -- Exports -- Africa, Southern, Ethanol fuel industry -- Exports -- Africa, Southern, Rural development -- Economic aspects -- Africa, Southern, Africa, Southern -- Economic conditions -- 21st century, Investments, Foreign -- Africa, Southern, Illovo (Firm)

Journal or Publication Title:

Journal of Peasant Studies, The

Publisher:

Routledge

ISSN:

0306-6150

Official Date:

April 2010

Dates:

Date	Event
April 2010	Published

Volume:

Vol.37

Number:

No.4

Number of Pages:

Page Range:

pp. 917-938

Identification Number:

10.1080/03066150.2010.512464

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

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