Reflections on Agroecology and Social Justice in Malwa-Nimar

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Abstract

Recent literature has positioned agroecological transitions as a way of repairing the ‘metabolic and epistemic rift’ brought about by industrial agriculture. Deeper appreciation of the interconnectedness and interpenetration between humans and nature has been at the heart of much thought about agroecology. Social and epistemic justice have been incorporated as almost inherent to the definition of agroecology for many involved in theorising about it worldwide, especially thought coming out of Latin America on ‘emancipatory agroecologies’. In view of the historical inequalities in agriculture in Malwa-Nimar, India, along caste, gender and class lines, this research seeks to explore the extent to which agroecology as currently practiced is emancipatory, and what challenges exist to overcoming structural inequalities. Findings show that, while more privileged farmers are able to find ways to repair the metabolic and position themselves as agents of epistemic change, sustaining their agroecological practice within current economic structures makes them dependent on relationships with labour and networks that may reify historical social and epistemic inequalities. This points to a need to embed the agroecology movement in a larger process of systems change in the region that seeks social-justice-centred rural transformation.

Original languageEnglish
Number of pages17
Journal International Journal of Rural Management
Early online date3 Nov 2024
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 3 Nov 2024

Funding

The author received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

Keywords

  • Class and inequality
  • gender equity
  • general agriculture
  • rural management

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Strategy and Management
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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