Paper short abstract:

Pluralising knowledge within agricultural development requires examining power relations and institutional barriers to knowledge exchanges and farmer agency. We explore agricultural practices between farmers in Forikrom, Ghana, to determine how knowledge plurality is shaped through negotiation.

Paper long abstract:

In a move for more decolonial approaches to research and development, the importance of a pluriversal approach, one that is inclusive of vastly differing ontologies, epistemologies and knowledges, cannot be overstated. What this looks like in practice, is a debate that is also held within the field of agriculture and food, where there is a need to align existing food systems with the needs and knowledge of local communities (i.e. epistemic justice). An empirical case within the transition zone of Ghana, where different ecologies and social groups meet, is described: the community of Forikrom. In this predominantly yam-farming community, migrant farmers and farmers from Forikrom come into contact with each other and other stakeholders. Migrant farmers are farmers who travel within the borders of Ghana, often from more Northern regions towards Forikrom and further South in the country. The differing social power of these groups is studied, along with possible effects on knowledge politics and processes of knowledge negotiation. In this research using critical ethnography, 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted, along with participant observation during farm visits and one workshop with interviewees. Preliminary findings point to a differential in power and influence on agricultural knowledge creation and knowledge exchanges for migrant farmers. Social dynamics (e.g. potential stereotypes and peer pressure) and institutional barriers (e.g. land tenure) are important when it comes to which knowledge is put into practice in this case. We conclude by providing some insights into creating more just environments for pluralising knowledge.