Transforming feudal agriculture: Agrarian change in Ethiopia since 1974

Abstract

This article seeks to examine the nature and consequences of agrarian change in Ethiopia since the revolution of 1974. It argues that while the reforms implemented since 1975 have effectively destroyed the age‐old feudal framework of agriculture, they have not yet created a coherent new framework. Even though the government's proclaimed objective is to develop a co‐operative framework, not much progress in that direction has so far been made. In fact, state policies in the past few years were dictated by the need to cope with short‐term problems arising from a decline in production and marketed surplus of food in the immediate aftermath of the reforms. The analysis in this article shows that the basic problem of peasant agriculture is that it currently produces only a meagre economic surplus. At this stage, therefore, agricultural growth is to be achieved primarily through the promotion of labour‐investment. This is the principal argument for co‐operativisation. This view suggests state policies which are quite different from those pursued in the past few years.

Notes

The author is a Senior Research Economist at the International Labour Office, Geneva. This article is based on a larger study undertaken for the World Employment Programme of the ILO. Thanks are due to Dharam Ghai, Samir Radwan and Ashwani Saith for helpful comments and suggestions. Neither the above‐mentioned individuals nor the ILO should, however, be held responsible for the views expressed.