This document summarizes a study exploring how race relations influence agricultural patterns among Zimbabwean youth after the Fast Track Land Reform Programme. The study found that: [1] While young white farmers acknowledge the necessity of land reform, young black farmers' livelihoods remain more vulnerable; [2] Race relations between young farmers are healthy, with increasing alliances and partnerships forming; [3] Agricultural policy needs to be youth-centered and racially inclusive to build on these new interracial partnerships and alliances in a sustainable way.
2. A Tale of two peoples: the influence
of race relations on agricultural
patterns among Zimbabwean
young people
Sibanda M, Chirinda N, Nyathi D
3. Introduction
• Land-based livelihoods systems have been resilient in
Africa even under the onslaught of chaotic land
reforms, insecure tenure systems, conflicts,
commercial land pressures and climate change.
• The discourse on agriculture and food production in
Africa is comprehensive and focused; however, race
relations is often excluded from the analyses.
• This paper addresses this gap by exploring the land
reform-race nexus, particularly how post-land reform
youth-level race relations influence agricultural
patterns.
4. Background to Zimbabwe’s Agrarian
Structure
• The land reforms in Zimbabwe have received
prominent attention globally, especially its devastating
effects on agriculture, human security, rule of law,
property rights, national economy, and on
international relations.
• Land Reforms in Zimbabwe occurred in two phases
• (a) Phase 1: 1980/3-87 - market driven.
• (b) Phase 2: 1999/00-2009 (to date???) – compulsory
acquisition.
5. Why Land Reforms in Zimbabwe
• To address systematic historical land imbalances
• The need to deracialise access to and ownership
of land
• Mainly to redress the agrarian structure created
by the colonial administration since 1890
• To decongest communal lands, formerly called
Native Reserves
• To reduce poverty and improve food security
6. The Fast Track Land Reform
Programme
• The Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP)
was launched on 15 July 2000 and by 2002 the
Government of Zimbabwe had managed to
acquire more than 4.000 white owned farms for
resettlement purposes (GoZ; 2002). Logan (2006)
notes that the land acquisition policy ushered in
by the FTLR marked the final transition in the
evolution of Zimbabwe’s land reform model
7. Objective of the Study
• This study explores the interaction of race and youth, particularly the
role of this interface in influencing agricultural outcomes in the post-land
reform Zimbabwe. Specifically, the study aimed at answering the
following questions:
• What role has race played amongst youths in determining access to land,
choice of farming systems and agrarian support mechanisms in
Zimbabwe?
• How did the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) transform race
relations amongst youths in agriculture since 2000?
• What are the policy challenges emerging from the study, and with
anecdotal implications?
8. How was the study done?
• We randomly selected one study district of Bubi
in Matebeleland North
• We purposely selected 10 young black farmers
and 5 young white farmers in the district. These 5
young farmers helped us in identifying 5 more
white farmers involved in agro-businesses in the
City of Bulawayo.
• Six FGDs and twelve interviews were then used to
collect/generate data
9. What did we find out?
• Young white farmers do not view the FTLRP as a racist
policy, and acknowledge its necessity
• Race relations among young farmers are healthy.
Alliances and networks are emerging
• Increasing occurrence of inter-racial land deals (leases,
fronting, contract farming, land sharing, land sales),
and agro-project partnerships
• More young white farmers involved in community
support initiatives
10. Findings cont...
• The young black farmers' livelihoods continue to
be vulnerable and less diversified
• Young white farmers who are shunning agro-
productive activities are turning to agro-
dealerships and other city-based initiatives
• Young white farmers and young black farmers are
forming, structuring and implementing ‘alliances/
partnerships’ without the state (farmer-to-farmer
alliances)
11. Policy and Research
• Need to re-think agricultural policy to be youth-centred,
racially inclusive and responsive to new governance challenges
• Need to support and strengthen new forms of agricultural
organisation/alliances so as to maximise on emerging value
chains and broaden inter-racial youth participation in
agriculture.
• In research, we question the sustainability and implication of
new inter-racial farmer synergies to land tenure, food security,
and youth in agriculture in Zimbabwe
