The paper examines the structure of wool value chains and emerging forms of
accumulation and differentiation among small-scale farmers in communal rangelands in
South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province.  Drawing on detailed ethnographic material, statistical analysis
and value chain mapping,the paper highlights a steady increase in communal wool production
and accumulation in recentyears. To a considerable extent, this has been driven by forms of
collective action, through local-level associations and industry-level coordination by trade associations to
support market access and improved techniques. However, our findings also demonstrate how these
processes of change have been highly uneven, with emerging pattens of class differentiation between
producers in different communal districts. We therefore argue that a better understanding of the
political dynamics of collective action and emerging patterns of inequality is crucial for
successful small farmer.

*Speakers:*   Dr Andrew Bowman (University of Edinburgh) and Prof Sonwabile
(Rhodes University)
*Date:*  24 May 2023
*Venue: * Faculty of Humanities Seminar Room
*Time:*  15:00 - 16:30 pm

*Please  RSVP by Friday 19th May 2023 to noluvuyo.sakata at ru.ac.za
<noluvuyo.sakata at ru.ac.za>*

ALL WELCOME