February 20, 2025

This blogpost is a reproduction of the abstract of a paper based on FoSTA-Health research being conducted by  Aneta Seidlová and Lenka Suchá (Czech Globe- Global Change Research Institute CAS)

Smallholder farmers are key to food system transformation, with aspirations shaping their livelihood strategies, decision-making, and investments (Mausch et al., 2021). Understanding these aspirations is essential, as they extend beyond economic concerns to encompass notions and meanings of a "good life”. Researching aspirations reveals the diverse drivers and barriers influencing farmers' decisions over time. Within FoSTA-Health, this approach provides deeper insights into rural livelihood trajectories and the dynamics of food system transformations, highlighting the importance of aligning  policies with local priorities and perspectives.

Life trajectory captured through oral history interview, author Aneta Seidlová

Aspirations can be understood as plans or less tangible hopes, desires, and goals. They are shaped by societal and cultural contexts, with individual and community aspirations influenced by what is deemed a legitimate livelihood by family, community, or society (Huijsmans et al., 2021). Our research builds on the capability approach and related work on aspirations, examining their social context through the concept of the "aspiration window" (Ray, 2006). This window limits perceived possibilities, as aspirations are shaped by what individuals observe around them and believe are achievable, thereby  influencing their capacity to aspire (Appadurai, 2004).

In Tanzania, FoSTA-Health focuses on the East Usambara Mountains in Muheza District, where most farmers engage in spice production, a profitable but seasonal activity requiring livelihood  diversification. In Malawi, participants are smallholders from Zomba and Mangochi districts, primarily growing maize, rice, or cassava for subsistence. Some Mangochi households supplement income through migration to South Africa. To examine how development interventions impact farmers' aspirations, we also included participants from CARE International's Titukulane project in both districts. 

We explored small-scale farmers' aspirations through in-depth interviews conducted in Tanzania (n=32) and Malawi (n=33). To address the cross-sectional nature of existing research on farming communities' aspirations, we employed oral histories, allowing participants to recount their life stories and place key events on a timeline. This method enabled us to examine how farmers' aspirations evolved over time and what factors influenced their fulfilment, failure, or adaptation.

Preliminary results show that in the Tanzania case study, spice production is closely linked to farmers' aspirations. Most farmers agree that spice farming improves their livelihoods, particularly by  enhancing living conditions and securing better educational opportunities for their children. However, concerns about the seasonality of spice production led to aspirations for more diversified  livelihoods, such as starting small businesses or offering motorcycle taxi services. While many farmers' aspirations extend beyond agriculture, farming remains a crucial means to achieve these goals and is viewed as a key source of stability in their lives.

In Malawi, farmers' aspirations frequently centre on increasing rice or maize production for market sale, emphasizing “farming as a business.” This is achieved through accessing irrigation, fertilizer, purchasing more land, or adopting improved farming techniques, especially among Titukulane project beneficiaries. While maize is viewed primarily as a staple for consumption, farmers also aspire to diversify into other crops (such as groundnuts, bananas, cabbage, and soy) or engage in cattle rearing. However, perceived opportunities for diversification are often limited by market accessibility, the types of crops sold by other farmers, and storage issues. Additionally, non-farming aspirations, including starting small businesses or selling fish and second-hand clothes, are common. The research encountered a severe drought that constrained short-term plans, prompting some farmers to delay business ventures due to economic challenges.

Despite some differences between the two cases (e.g. more cash crop-oriented context of spice production), Tanzania and Malawi share notable similarities in farmers' aspirations. We identified nuanced and mixed aspirations related to farming. Failed aspirations were often linked to tragic events, such as family deaths, health issues, or early pregnancies and the absence of a social safety net. As a result, farming, typically not the first choice, often emerged as an adapted aspiration or a means to achieve other non-farm goals. In both contexts, future aspirations primarily focus on securing sufficient income to invest further in farming and/or business activities.

Additionally, farmers aspire to support their children's education, enabling them to attain more stable and secure employment while maintaining some level of engagement in agriculture, albeit in varying forms from their current practices. Generally, farmers perceive agriculture as a way of life, rooted in their upbringing and viewed by their communities as a norm, leading them to rarely consider  completely abandoning it.

References

• Appadurai, A., 2004, 'The Capacity to Aspire: Culture and the Terms of Recognition', in Rao, V. and Walton, M., (eds.) Culture and Public Action, Stanford University Press, Palo Alto, California, pp 59-84.
• Huijsmans, R., Ansell, N. & Froerer, P. Introduction: Development, Young People, and the Social Production of Aspirations. Eur J Dev Res 33, 1–15 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-020-00337-1https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-020-00337-1
• Mausch, K., Harris, D., Dilley, L. et al. Not All About Farming: Understanding Aspirations Can Challenge Assumptions About Rural Development. Eur J Dev Res 33, 861–884 (2021).   https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-021-00398-w