The threat to farmers in Ethiopia

External influence and funding play a complex role in shaping the agricultural landscape of smallholder farmers, particularly in countries like Ethiopia, where the majority of the population relies on farming for both food and income. While external support—such as expertise in soil science, seed development, and agricultural marketing—can bring technological advancements and potentially increase productivity, it can also pose significant threats to the autonomy and long-term sustainability of smallholder farming communities.

Smallholder farmers in Africa often benefit from external expertise, as noted in the development of digital soil maps by the Africa Soil Information Service and the breeding of hybrid crops at the Melkassa Research Station. However, this reliance on external technologies and systems can make farmers dependent on foreign institutions or donors. The advanced technologies used for soil analysis, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, while innovative and cost-effective, might be unsustainable without continued funding and training. Farmers may struggle to maintain or replicate these systems without ongoing external support, leading to a situation where the withdrawal of aid or resources could leave them worse off than before.

External influence, especially when it involves the introduction of hybrid seeds and new farming methods, can threaten traditional agricultural practices and biodiversity. For example, the promotion of hybrid sorghum seeds, which are more resistant to disease and drought, can improve short-term yields. However, the shift toward monocultures and away from diverse, locally adapted seed varieties may erode traditional knowledge and the resilience of farming systems. If farmers become overly reliant on hybrid seeds or other externally sourced inputs, they may lose the ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions independently.

External funding and influence also shape market access and pricing mechanisms. In the article, the Lume Adama Farmers’ Cooperative helps farmers set prices, gain access to credit, and procure improved seeds. While cooperatives can be empowering, they also expose smallholder farmers to global market pressures. For instance, farmers who switch to growing cash crops like chickpeas or beans to increase income may become vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. If market conditions change, they could face significant financial hardship, especially if they have abandoned more diverse subsistence farming practices.

The involvement of external actors in smallholder agriculture can sometimes lead to the exploitation of local resources. The promotion of new agricultural technologies may be accompanied by the extraction of local knowledge, seeds, or data (e.g., the digital soil map in Ethiopia). This raises concerns about intellectual property rights and the potential for local farmers to lose control over their own agricultural inputs, such as seeds. Farmers may end up paying royalties or fees for using patented seeds or technologies that were initially provided as part of development programs.

External influence can also impact food security by shifting the focus of agricultural development away from local needs. Programs designed by international organizations or foreign governments may prioritize crops for export or cash crops over those that are essential for local food security. In Ethiopia, for example, while sorghum and beans are important for local consumption, the introduction of hybrid seeds and market-driven production could prioritize crop varieties that are more profitable but less suited to local diets and ecosystems. This can undermine the food sovereignty of smallholder farmers, reducing their ability to determine their own agricultural and nutritional priorities.

Finally, while external funding and technological innovations may lead to short-term gains in productivity, there are concerns about the long-term sustainability of these interventions. If programs are not designed with local capacity-building in mind, farmers may struggle to maintain improvements once external support ends. The introduction of hybrid seeds or advanced soil diagnostics, for instance, might temporarily boost yields but could leave farmers reliant on inputs they cannot afford in the long run, creating a cycle of dependency.

External influence and funding in smallholder farming can bring critical advancements, as seen in Ethiopia’s efforts to improve crop production through advanced soil analysis and hybrid seed development. However, these interventions also pose significant risks, including the loss of autonomy, increased vulnerability to market forces, and threats to biodiversity. Sustainable agricultural development must prioritize empowering smallholder farmers, preserving local knowledge, and ensuring that external assistance does not create long-term dependency or undermine food sovereignty. Only then can external influence be a genuine force for improving the lives of the world’s poorest farmers without exploiting or disempowering them.