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Datafying African Agriculture: From Data Governance to Farmers’ Rights

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew Canfield

    (Leiden Law School)

  • Barbara Ntambirweki

    (Stanford University and ETC Group)

Abstract

This article explores the impact of digital agricultural technologies on African agricultural systems. As we describe, the datafication of African agricultural systems is poised to reshape agrarian power relations significantly. We examine the risks of datafication through a case study of Kenya, a hub for digitalization on the African continent. While Kenya leads in developing data governance policies, the current emphasis on personal privacy overlooks collective risks for smallholder farmers. We advocate for a paradigm shift towards a framework that prioritizes farmers’ rights and fosters participatory data governance, placing farmers at the center of decision-making processes to address underlying power imbalances.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Canfield & Barbara Ntambirweki, 2024. "Datafying African Agriculture: From Data Governance to Farmers’ Rights," Development, Palgrave Macmillan;Society for International Deveopment, vol. 67(1), pages 5-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:develp:v:67:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41301-024-00405-7
    DOI: 10.1057/s41301-024-00405-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lajoie-O'Malley, Alana & Bronson, Kelly & van der Burg, Simone & Klerkx, Laurens, 2020. "The future(s) of digital agriculture and sustainable food systems: An analysis of high-level policy documents," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    2. Sarah Hackfort, 2021. "Patterns of Inequalities in Digital Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Abate, Gashaw T. & Abay, Kibrom A. & Chamberlin, Jordan & Kassim, Yumna & Spielman, David J. & Paul Jr Tabe-Ojong, Martin, 2023. "Digital tools and agricultural market transformation in Africa: Why are they not at scale yet, and what will it take to get there?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    4. Zia Mehrabi & Mollie J. McDowell & Vincent Ricciardi & Christian Levers & Juan Diego Martinez & Natascha Mehrabi & Hannah Wittman & Navin Ramankutty & Andy Jarvis, 2021. "The global divide in data-driven farming," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(2), pages 154-160, February.
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