The state and african peasant farming in Katete district of Zambia’s eastern province, 1964 – 1996.
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Date
2019
Authors
Sakala, Robert
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Abstract
This study focuses on the relationship between the state and peasant farming impact of state
in Katete district in Zambia’s post-independence period from 1964 to1996. The study begins
with an examination of the status of peasant farming in the district on the eve of political
independence from Britain as a way of setting the stage of the transition of peasant
agriculture from colonial to independent Zambia. It demonstrates that, as the new Zambian
government took over the reigns of political power from the imperial authorities in 1964,
peasant farming in Katete district steadily developed.
The study then examines the role played by the post-colonial government in the development
of peasant farming from 1964 to 1991 under the United National Independence Party (UNIP)
regime, which introduced socialistic policies. Among the policies introduced were subsidised
farming inputs such as seed and fertilizer, farming loans and state controlled markets. It was
during this period that there was heavy state support to the peasantry to make the country
self-sufficient in food production. This study argues that as a consequence of state
sponsorship, a state-reliant peasantry had developed in the district by 1991 when the UNIP
government left office.
The study addresses the effects on the peasantry of the economic reforms introduced by the
new Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) government when it came to power in
1991. The new economic policy characterised by the Structural Adjustment Programme
(SAP) led to the privatisation of state-owned parastatals and the liberalisation of agricultural
markets. This had detrimental effects on the government-dependent peasantry in Katete and
beyond. Peasant farming in the district, this study argues, declined during this period due to
lack of state support which farmers had become accustomed to during the previous regime.
KEY WORDS: Peasant farmers, liberalisation, farming inputs and peasant dependency.
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Agriculture--Economic aspects-Zambia , Peasants--Zambia--History 1964--1991