Chris Huggins Agricultural reform in rwanda

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International observers have lauded Rwanda as an example of an African country taking control of its own development trajectory, and as a market-friendly destination for investment.

A key component of this narrative has been an ambitious programme of agricultural reform, involving private firms, NGOs, and international charities.

The Rwandan government claims these reforms have been a resounding success, tripling crop yields and helping to combat hunger.

Chris Huggins argues, however, that Rwanda's liberal, modernising image sits poorly with the regime's continuing authoritarian tendencies.

Featuring in-depth case studies of the effects of agricultural reform in three different regions, and drawing on hundreds of interviews, Huggins shows that the much-vaunted `liberalization' of agriculture has in fact depended on the coercion of Rwandan farmers, and in many cases has had a detrimental impact on their livelihoods.

With the Kagame regime now coming under increasing international scrutiny, this work provides a timely look at the impact of `market friendly authoritarianism' in contemporary Africa, making essential reading for students and scholars of development in the fields of sociology, anthropology, political science, and economics.