The Changing Face of Smallholder Farming: Insights from an Amazonian Landscape in Transition

Summary

In tropical regions, over half the population lives
in rural areas, mostly subsisting from small-scale agriculture. Smallholder
farmers navigate challenges related to a changing landscape, including climate
change and market pressures. External interventions from public and private
actors aim to improve farmers’ livelihoods, foster conservation, and develop
rural areas. However, they often fail to yield lasting positive impacts, partly
due to a lack of consideration for farmers' perspectives and priorities. This
thesis explores how external interventions shape smallholder farming systems in
Madre de Dios, Peru. Using methods like historical analysis, field interviews,
Fuzzy-Cognitive Maps, and a serious game, it examines the dynamics of land use
transformation. Findings reveal that interventions often misalign with local
realities, and that the most widely available interventions are often of low
value to farmers. By integrating smallholder input and addressing systemic
barriers, the study offers insights for designing more adaptive, participatory
interventions aligned with farmer needs.