Perspectives on Agriculture, Diversification, and Gender in Rural Africa: Theoretical and Methodological Issues
The chapter frames the book in terms of the recent debates on smallholder agriculture and the empirical context of sub-Saharan Africa and presents the aims of the book. Moreover, it outlines the theoretical basis for the book departing from theoretical perspectives on pro-poor agricultural growth, gender-based differences in agricultural productivity, linkages to the non-farm sector, and gender-based aspects of such diversification. The chapter details the research design employed by the project and how it has evolved over time, and lists the countries and regions in which the data have been collected. The longitudinal data gathered in 2002, 2008 and 2013/15 are described, as are the complementary qualitative data collected since 2008. Finally, the chapter summarizes the structure of the book.