Mobility, marriage decline, and the ceremonial economy: socio-cultural factors influencing farming in South Africa and implications for land reform

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on the social dynamics influencing small-scale agriculture in South Africa. These include three primary factors: the trans-local character of livelihoods; the role of social hierarchies of gender, age and marital status in allocating rights and responsibilities at home; and the ceremonial economy. South African land reform policies must recognise these local practices of distribution and social reproduction as integral to people’s livelihood strategies. By doing so, land reform can move beyond the narrow emphasis on productivity and ‘self-reliance,’ instead focusing on aligning policies with the strategies of the poor.