ILCAA Joint Research Project

Rethinking the History of Agriculture and Rural Societies in Africa: From the Viewpoint of Indigenous Agricultural Revolution (jrp000223)

Keywords

• sub-Saharan Africa
• Southeast Asia
• indigenous agriculture
• green revolution
• hisoty
• anthropology
• agricultural economics
• comarative study on peasant society

Areas

• sub-Saharan Africa
• Southeast Asia

Website

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About the Project

Project term: April, 2016–March, 2019

In sub-Saharan Africa, policies aiming at agricultural modernization have so far been been unsuccessful. African agriculture, however, has not simply stagnated but undergone several drastic changes since the colonial era up to the present day of globalization. In order to adapt to the changing environment, African peasant farmers have made countless agricultural innovations, based on their copious knowledge of local agro-ecology. Paul Richards called this grassroots innovation “indigenous agricultural revolution,” thereby suggesting an African way of agricultural development as an alternative to the Green Revolution, which is characterized by its top-down approach and one-size-fits-all application of the scientific method. Based on Richard’s thought-provoking argument, this research project will examine the history of agriculture and rural societies in modern Africa from the viewpoint of indigenous agricultural revolution, in order to gain insight into sustainable agricultural development in future Africa.

Members

Coordinator

• Tadasu TSURUTA (Kindai University)

ILCAA Staff

• Hiroki ISHIKAWA
• Hideo FUKAZAWA

Joint Researchers

• Takako ANKEI
• Takeshi FUJIMOTO
• Yuichiro FUJIOKA
• Koichi IKEGAMI
• Shun ISHIYAMA
• Kaori KOMATSU
• Masahiko MATSUDA
• Rumiko MURAO
• Shuichi OYAMA
• Kenta SAKANASHI
• Chizuko SATO
• Yasuaki SATO
• Tatsuro SUEHARA
• Kazuhiko SUGIMURA
• Yuko SUGIYAMA
• Toshikazu TANAKA
• Tadasu TSURUTA

Outputs

Meetings

The 9th meeting ：Report (Japanese)(252KB)

• Date/Time: Sat 2 Mar 2019 14:00–18:30, Sun 3 Mar 2019 9:30–13:00
• Venue: Hongo Satellite 5F Seminar Room
• Language: Japanese
• 2 Mar

• Sota HARAKO (Japan Forest Technology Association)

  “Diversity in Bena Agriculture on the Upstream of Rufiji River, Tanzania”

  Hiroki ISHIKAWA (ILCAA)

  “Agriculture in Ethiopian Kingdoms: Based on Primary Sources”

• 3 Mar

• Yasuaki SATO (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Osaka Sangyo University)

  “The Present Situation and Challenges among Banana Growers in Uganda”

  All members

  Discussion on Future Publication

The 8th meeting ：Report (Japanese)(298KB)

• Date/Time: Sat 15 Dec 2018 14:00–18:30, Sun 16 Dec 2018 9:30–13:00
• Venue: Building No.16，OSAKA SANGYO UNIVERSITY (3-1-1 Nakagaito Daito-City, Osaka)
• Language: Japanese
• Jointly sponsored by Joint Research Project “Rethinking the History of Agriculture and Rural Societies in Africa: From the Viewpoint of Indigenous Agricultural Revolution”, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) “New Development of African Food Culture Research: For the Food Sovereignty Studies” (Principal Investigator: Takeshi FUJIMOTO (University of Toyama), Project Number: 18H03441), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) “Perspective on Folk Innovation History and Small-scale Income Generating Activities among African Peasants” (Principal Investigator: Yuko SUGIYAMA (Hirosaki University), Project Number: 18H00776)
• 15 Dec

• Noriko ITO (Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)

  “Commercialization of Agriculture and Changes in Traditional Customs among Southeast Asian Peasantry: A Comparison with A Rice Irrigation Scheme in Kenya”

  Koichi IKEGAMI (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Kindai University)

  “From Technology Approach to Farming System Approach (1) Toward the Necessity of Theories on Technological Changes and Farming Systems”

• 16 Dec

• Takako ANKEI (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Yamaguchi University)

  “African History from the Viewpoint of Culinary Art”

  Rumiko MURAO (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Rikkyo University)

  “Changes in Farming Technology Brought about by Enforced Migration: A Case of the Frontier Area between Angola and Zambia”

The 7th meeting ：Report (Japanese)(260KB)

• Date/Time: Sat 30 Jun 2018 14:00–19:00, Sun 1 Jul 2018 9:30–13:00
• Venue: Hongo Satellite 5F
• Language: Japanese
• Jointly sponsored by Joint Research Project “Rethinking the History of Agriculture and Rural Societies in Africa”, Sustainable Rural Development based on Co-existence of Agriculture and Pastoralism in Semi-arid Africa (Principal Investigator: Tadasu TSURUTA (Kindai University) Research Project Number: 17H04628)
• 30 Jun

• Taro ADACHI (Tokyo University of Agriculture)

  “African Agriculture from the Entomologist Perspective”

  Shun ISHIYAMA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, National Museum of Ethnology)

  “A Comparison between Agriculture on the Southern Fringes of the Sahara and Oasis Farming in the Sahara”

• 1 Jul

• Kaori KOMATSU (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Hokkai Gakuen University)

  “intensificationとgeneralization”

  All members

  Discussion on Future Publication

The 6th meeting ：Report (Japanese)(301KB)

• Date/Time: Mon 19 Mar 2018 14:00–18:30, Tue 20 Mar 2018 9:30–13:00
• Venue: 19 Mar: E217, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University, 20 Mar: Ryukoku University Satelite, Campus Plaza Kyoto
• Language: Japanese
• 19 Mar, Venue: E217, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University

• Tatsushi FUJIHARA (Kyoto University)

  “A History of Agricultural Technology: Development of Tractors in the 20th-Century World”

  Toshikazu TANAKA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Tohoku University)

  “Plough Agricultural Complex in Contemporary Ethiopian Highlands”

  Tadasu TSURUTA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Kindai University)

  Comments

• 20 Mar, Venue: Ryukoku University Satelite, Campus Plaza Kyoto

• Kenta SAKANASHI (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Ryukoku University)

  “Introduction of Cacao Production into Tropical Africa and Socio-economic Change among Shifting Cultivators”

  Kazuo ANDO (Kyoto University)

  “The Idea of Grassroots Farming Technology: How It Is Different from Indigenous Technology”

The 5th meeting ：Report (Japanese)(278KB)

• Date/Time: Sat 2 Dec 2017 14:00–19:00, Sun 3 Dec 2017 9:30–13:00
• Venue: Hongo Satellite 4F
• Language: Japanese
• 2 Dec

• Yuichiro FUJIOKA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Kyushu University)

  “Revisiting Agriculture-Pastoralism Complex in Africa: From the Viewpoint of Agro-pastoral Societies in Namibia”

  Yudai ISHIMOTO (Aomori Public University)

  “Transformation of Subsistence Activities among Agro-pastoralists in Sahel, West Africa: A Case of Northeastern Burukina Faso”

• 3 Dec

• Naoaki IZUMI (Hyogo Prefectural University)

  “Social Mechanism on the Formation and Maintenance of Wealthy Households among the Agro-pastoralist Sukuma, Tanzania”

  Comments and discussion

  Commentators: Tadasu TSURUTA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Kindai University)

  “Theoretical Framework to Understand Agro-pastoral Societies in Africa from Historical Perspective”

The 4th meeting ：Report (Japanese)(171KB)

• Date/Time: Sat 8 Jul 2017 14:00–19:00, Sun 9 Jul 2017 9:30–13:00
• Venue: Hongo Satellite 4F
• Language: Japanese
• 8 Jul

• Ryohei TERAUCHI (Kyoto University)

  “Exploring Diversity and Origin of Guinea Yam”

  Shingo ODANI (Chiba University)

  “Introdution of Sweet Potatos and Agricultural Revolution in New Guinea: A Historical and Geographical Analysis”

• 9 Jul

• Takeshi FUJIMOTO (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Toyama University)

  “Farmers’ Innovation Observed in Ensete Cultivation in Southwestern Ethiopia”

  All members

  Comments and discussion

The 3rd meeting ：Report (Japanese)(197KB)

• Date/Time: Sat 25 Mar 2017 14:00–19:00, Sun 26 Mar 2017 9:30–13:00
• Venue: Room 301, ILCAA
• Language: Japanese
• Jointly sponsored by ILCAA Joint Research Project “Rethinking the History of Agriculture and Rural Societies in Africa: From the Viewpoint of Indigenous Agricultural Revolution”, Grant-In-Aid for Scientific Research(Principal Investigators: Kaori KOMATSU(Hokkai Gakkuen University)#15H03134, Yuko SUGIYAMA(Hirosaki University)#25284171)
• 25 Mar

• Satoshi YOKOYAMA (Nagoya University)

  “Traditional Livelihood in Laos: Disappearing Swidden Agriculture and Changing Rural Communities under Globalizaion”

  Makoto SHIBATA (Kyoto University)

  “Nutrient Cycle in Soils under Swidden Agriculture in Cameroon”

• 26 Mar

• Kagari SHIKATA (Kyoto University)

  “The Relationship between Rain Forest and Human in Shifting Cultivation in Africa”

  Kaori KOMATSU (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Hokkai Gakkuen University) and Kenta SAKANASHI (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Ryukoku University)

  Comments and Discussion

The 2nd meeting ：Report (Japanese)(136KB)

• Date/Time: Sat 3 Dec 2016 14:00–19:00 , Sun 4 Dec 2016 9:30–13:30
• Venue: Small Meeting Room 1, 3F Inamori Foundation Memorial Hall, Kyoto University (46 Yoshida-Shimoadachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City)
• Language: Japanese
• Jointly sponsored by ILCAA Joint Research Project “Rethinking the History of Agriculture and Rural Societies in Africa: From the Viewpoint of Indigenous Agricultural Revolution”, Grant-In-Aid for Scientific Research(Principal Investigators: Tadasu TSURUTA (Kindai University)#26300014, Hiroki ISHIKAWA(ILCAA)#15K02888)
• 3 Dec

• Masahiko MATSUDA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Ritsumeikan University)

  “Agriculture and Rural Communities in Myammar and Southeast Asia”

  Hideo FUKAZAWA (ILCAA)

  “Agricultural Innovation in Rural Madagascar Over the Last 30 Years”

• 4 Dec

• Shuichi OHYAMA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Kyoto University)

  “Future Prospect of Sahelian Agriculture Practices in West Africa”

  Futoshi KATO (Nihon University)

  “Expansion of Rice Farming and Rural Migration in Tanzania”

The 1st meeting

• Date/Time: Sat 23 Jul 2016 14:00–19:00, Sun 24 Jul 2016 9:30–13:00
• Venue: Room 301, ILCAA
• Language: Japanese
• Jointly sponsored by ILCAA Joint Research Project “Rethinking the History of Agriculture and Rural Societies in Africa”, Grant-In-Aid for Scientific Research (Principal Investigator: Tadasu TSURUTA (Kindai University) Research Project Number: 26300014), Grant-In-Aid for Scientific Research (Principal Investigator: Yuko SUGIYAMA (Hirosaki University) Research Project Number: 25284171)
• 23 Jul

• Tadasu TSURUTA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Kindai University)

  “Agricultural Revolution in African History”

  Yuko SUGIYAMA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Hirosaki University)

  “Local Innovation in African Rural Areas”

• 24 Jul

• Tatsuro SUEHARA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Ryukoku University)

  “African Agriculture in Comparative Perspectives”

  Kazuhiko SUGIMURA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Fukui Prefectural University)

  “History of Civilizations and Agricultural Revolution: Reexamining the Works of Jiro Iinuma”

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