Engström, Linda
- Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Our paper focuses on two non-operational agro-investments in Kigoma, Tanzania. We explore the dynamics of land use and their livelihood implications for the agro-pastoralists who settled on the uncultivated post-investment land, and for the adjacent village communities, who were dispossessed of the land before investment. Using qualitative methods, we show that land lying uncultivated following two cancelled land deals is being made highly productive by immigrant Sukuma agro-pastoralists with substantial livelihood benefits. However, this progression is partly hampered by a de-development situation following a state of limbo due to the cancelled investments and the uncertain future surrounding the land, partly hindering long-term investment in the land. Conversely, the state of limbo post-investment has created more negative impacts on villagers who are disadvantaged by an institutional framework that does not provide for the return of the land to the villages it was taken. It reshapes rural transformations and migration patterns.
Keywords
Large-scale agricultural investments; non-operational agro-investments; land use in limbo; livelihoods; Sukuma; Tanzania
Published in
Globalizations
2025
Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR AND FRANCIS LTD
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Agricultural Economics and Management and Rural development
Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2025.2535043
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/143284